Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s recent visits to Jharkhand highlight the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) effort to boost development in the state ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections. On October 2, 2024, Modi inaugurated several projects worth over Rs 83,300 crore in Hazaribagh, further cementing his government’s commitment to the state. This marks Modi’s second visit in less than three weeks, following his trip to Jamshedpur on September 15, 2024. These initiatives aim to strengthen infrastructure and welfare schemes, focusing on tribal development.
Key initiatives launched by BJP since 2014 for Jharkhand:
- Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS): On October 2, 2024, Modi inaugurated 40 EMRS and laid the foundation for 25 new ones, aimed at improving education for tribal children. These schools are spread across 549 districts, covering over 5 crore tribal people. The schools are part of a larger push to build better educational infrastructure for marginalized communities in rural areas. It builds on earlier commitments by the BJP to focus on tribal upliftment.
- Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan on October 2, 2024, PM Modi, contributed over Rs 79,150 crore for the scheme, which was introduced to boost rural infrastructure, focusing on water supply, road development, and rural electrification in tribal regions. Early phases of the scheme focus on Jharkhand’s underdeveloped rural belts, directly benefiting 63,000 villages.
- Swachh Bharat Mission on October 2, 2014, PM Modi highlighted that this sanitation initiative is the world’s most successful public movement. In Jharkhand, the campaign has led to significant improvements in sanitation infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, reducing open defecation and improving hygiene. Jharkhand has made strides under this mission, with 24 districts declared open defecation-free after constructing over 33 lakh toilets in rural areas.
- PM Awas Yojana launched in 2015: Thousands of houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, providing permanent homes for the underprivileged, with a particular focus on the tribal population in Jharkhand. The recent projects in Hazaribagh continue this mission, with many families benefiting from the scheme.
- Tribal push and infrastructure development projects have been announced since 2014. The BJP’s focus on tribal welfare is evident through various infrastructure projects targeting rural roads, water management, and electrification.
In the recent rally, Modi reiterated his commitment to the state’s tribal communities. The centre has allocated substantial funds for improving rural connectivity, yet many regions still face delays in project implementation due to administrative challenges.
BJP’s political strategy in Jharkhand
BJP’s efforts in Jharkhand also have a clear electoral angle. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 12 out of 14 seats in the state. However, the party faced a setback in the 2019 Assembly elections, losing to the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The BJP is now making strategic moves to regain tribal support, a key demographic in the state. The recent appointment of Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand’s first Chief Minister, as the party’s state president underscores this shift in focus. Marandi, a Santhal tribal leader, is expected to challenge Soren’s dominance in tribal areas.
Recent developments
- Parivartan Yatra: The BJP recently concluded its ‘Parivartan Yatra,’ covering 5,400 km and reaching out to 81 assembly segments. Modi’s rally in Hazaribagh marked the yatra’s finale, a clear indication of the party’s aggressive campaign ahead of the upcoming elections.
- Bangladeshi infiltration issue: The BJP, under the leadership of figures like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also raised concerns about Bangladeshi infiltration, especially in Jharkhand’s tribal-dominated Santhal Pargana region. The party aims to tap into the growing dissatisfaction with the ruling JMM, accusing the current government of appeasement politics.
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With elections around the corner, the BJP is doubling down on its efforts to win back Jharkhand by focusing on tribal development and rural infrastructure. Modi’s recent visits and projects are part of a broader strategy to appeal to tribal voters, who remain a crucial demographic. The coming months will reveal whether the BJP’s outreach, coupled with its development agenda, can secure a majority in the state’s 2025 assembly elections.
