Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha chief Jairam ‘Tiger’ Mahato has emerged as a prominent OBC face in state. He had fielded candidates in 71 seats this assembly election.
Defeating Hemant Soren in Barhait was expected to be challenging for BJP as JMM has held the seat since 1990 while Soren himself has won it twice, in 2014 and 2019.
Voting for Jharkhand’s 81 assembly seats was held in two phases. Ruling JMM-Congress-RJD coalition is hoping to retain power after edge over BJP in tribal seats in Lok Sabha polls.
Shah also accused the JMM-led coalition of making infiltrators its vote bank, claiming ‘trainloads of illegal immigrants’ would be sent back to Bangladesh if BJP came to power.
'There will soon be a day when tribals are found only in museums,' says an Adivasi youth. As polls near, anxieties over an existential threat to tribal identity rears its head again.
BJP has pulled out its big guns, Modi & Shah, in Jharkhand, while Congress has been slow to start, leaving JMM’s Hemant & Kalpana Soren to carry the campaign on their shoulders.
A domicile policy with 1932 as cut-off year has been a sensitive issue. Party maintains ambiguity to avoid polarisation of tribals & to keep its base of non-tribal voters intact.
Tickets to Champai Soren & his son, Raghubar Das’s daughter-in-law & Arjun Munda’s wife have especially sparked protests within BJP. Former minister Louis Marandi among latest to defect.
From meeting tragedy-hit families to listening Mann Ki Baat with tribals, BJP leader is criss-crossing state. Assam CM's meetings have increased difficulties for JMM, says Geeta Koda.
Coal-based power generation fell 3% in 2025 while renewable capacity surged to 40% of India’s installed power mix, according to India Power Sector Review 2025 by CREA.
Pakistan military said it has assured Bangladesh of fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft during high level defence meet held Tuesday.
Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.
Congratulations to the young leader!
Tiger Mahato is impressive and can be the future of Jharkhand.
JMM was and will be an utterly corrupt party. It only pays lip service to the welfare of tribals. All funds meant for tribal upliftment are embezzled by JMM party officials. It’s time young leaders like Mahato emerge from the tribal community who can lead it forward.
Congratulations to the young leader!
Tiger Mahato is impressive and can be the future of Jharkhand.
JMM was and will be an utterly corrupt party. It only pays lip service to the welfare of tribals. All funds meant for tribal upliftment are embezzled by JMM party officials. It’s time young leaders like Mahato emerge from the tribal community who can lead it forward.