Bokaro: Three-month-old Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) secured around 10.31 lakh votes in the 68 seats that it fought in its first assembly election. Party president Jairam Mahto defeated JMM's Bebi Devi by 10,945 votes in Dumri.
The new party got more votes than Ajsu-P, which contested on 10 seats and got 6.32 lakh votes, RJD, JD-U, LJP-RV, and CPI(ML).It dented both the NDA as well as the INDIA bloc's votes polled.
Mahto said, "Our party's strong performance, including several second and third positions in the coal belt, was due to people's blessings. I fought on principles and won. I will support the Hemant Soren-led govt's good policies but am ready to play an opposition role if they don't serve people's interests."
Citing resource constraints as a major challenge, Vijay stated, "But our campaign impacted the performances of BJP and Ajsu-P in several seats. This election proved that campaigns, even those led by the Prime Minister, don't guarantee success in regional politics."
Party spokesperson Vijay Kumar said, "While the overall results fell short of expectations, we will review the performance of candidates who came second and third in the constituencies that they were in fray. We will strategise to strengthen our future electoral performance."
Motilal Mahto, a JKLM member who secured third place in Tundi by bagging around 44,000 votes, said, "We will analyse both victories and defeats to emerge stronger in future."