Test for BJP as Jharkhand votes in 5 phases from Nov 30

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Friday announced polls to the Jharkhand assembly with voting scheduled between November 30 and December 20. Results will be declared on December 23.
The battle will be keenly watched with BJPs sub-par showing in the recently concluded elections in Haryana and Maharashtra providing hope to the opposition camp that the Narendra Modi wave which swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls can give way to local issues in assembly elections.
Congress has quickly decided to keep its alliance with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), agreeing to a junior partner position. BJP, on the other hand, will lead the fight to defend the Raghubar Das government with All Jharkhand Students Union as its partner.
The alliance had clicked in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 12 out of 14 seats in the state, defying estimates that incumbency of the state government might hurt BJP in the national polls.
Though state polls are largely a verdict on the incumbent and regional and local issues, Jharkhand will pose a key test for BJP to try and establish that the jolts in Maharashtra and Haryana were aberrations and its mojo isnt dented.
Like in the two states, BJP had won Jharkhand in 2014 in the aftermath of Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading BJP to an unexpected full majority. Ensuring the 2014 election was not a fluke and that BJP is now well established as a party of governance will be a challenge, Read More – Source