By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Ranchi: Even as the BJP emerged victorious in Jharkhand assembly and claimed “people voted for stability,” two Muslim candidates – both from the Congress – won the day for the secular parties. In the last Assembly, there were four Muslim legislators.
The BJP won 37 seats while its pre-poll alliance partner, the All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) got five seats, taking them comfortably past the halfway mark in the 81 member assembly.
Irfan Ansari from Jamtara and Alamgir Alam from Pakur constituencies, both Congress candidates, won their seats while six other Muslim candidates gave a brave fight to reach the second position. These are Mannan Mallick (Congress) from Dhanbad, Hazi Hussain Ansari (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) from Madhupur, Shahid Iqbal (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) from Mahagama, Akil Akhtar (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) from Pakur, Md Tajuddin (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) from Rajmahal and Shahzada Anwar (Congress) from Ramgarh.
In general, BJP’s vote share went up from last time’s 24% to 31% now. The saffron party did remarkably well in the tribal Santhal Pargana region (18 seats). It won seven, a marked improvement over just two seats in last election.
The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) barely improved its performance, winning 19 seats. The Congress bagged just six seats.
Major leaders who lost included Arjun Munda, considered a strong contender for chief ministership, who was defeated from the Kharsawa constituency. The other former chief ministers, who were electorally stung, include Babulal Marandi and Madhu Koda.
Jai Bharat Samanta Party candidate Koda lost the election from the Majhgao constituency. Outgoing chief minister Hemant Soren won from the Barhait assembly constituency but lost from Dumka.
Jharkhand, which became a state in November 2000, has rich mineral resources including uranium. The state has a third of India’s coal reserves and a quarter of India’s copper reserves.
In the last assembly following Muslim were the members:
Pakaur: Aquil Akhtar JMM
Madhupur: Hussain Ansari JMM
Dhanwar: Nizamuddin Ansari JVM
Gandey: Sarfraz Ahmad INC
(With inputs from IANS)