Sunil emerges as giant killer in Shibu’s turf

Ranchi: Having lost in the last two Lok Sabha polls to his mentor and JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, the 2019 general elections proved to be third time lucky for BJP’s Sunil Soren as he beat his mentor by 47,590 votes.
Sunil, who started his political career with JMM, parted ways with the tribal party in 2004 and shot to limelight after he defeated Shibu’s elder son Durga Soren in the assembly election. In the 2009 and 2014 polls, Sunil lost to Shibu, but increased his vote share from 1,89,706 in 2009 to 2,96,785 in 2014, beating even JVM-P chief Babulal Marandi in the process.
Talking to TOI days before the May 19 polls, Sunil said he was banking on multiple factors to see him through. “Besides a strong undercurrent in favour of Modi and the state government’s good work, there is also a heavy anti-incumbency wave simmering against Guruji. He has been representing Dumka for 40 years, but the place remains under-developed in all aspects. We are hoping to capitalise on this,” he said.
“Even in remotest village in Dumka, youngsters today have access to mobile phones and internet connectivity. They can no longer be forced to live in dark age. They are aware what’s happening globally and have aspirations to develop,” he added.
That seemed to have worked in his favour. According to trends that surfaced, BJP seemed to have led in assembly segments like Jama, Shikaripara that are JMM strongholds. The Dumka parliamentary seat has six assembly segments of which three are with BJP, two JMM and one Congress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Deoghar’s airport ground ahead of May 19 polls in Santhal Pargana also led to the toppling of JMM’s apple cart and helped BJP retain Godda.
Chief minister Raghubar Das termed it as historic win. “Guruji didn’t want to contest. He was also averse to JMM forging an alliance with Congress. But Hemant Soren, because of his aspirations, ignored his father’s advice,” he said.
A win in prestigious Dumka (ST) seat, which BJP has won for the first time since the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, will give the saffron party a much-needed boost before the assembly elections later this year. For JMM, the loss is a moral defeat.