The Giridih seat is one of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand and falls under the general category. It includes parts of the Bokaro, Dhanbad, and Giridih districts and consists of six assembly segments: Giridih and Dumri in Giridih district, Gomia and Bermo in Bokaro, and Tundi and Baghmara in Dhanbad.
Chandra Prakash Choudhary of the All Jharkhand Students Union is the incumbent MP here and also the party’s nominee, while Mathura Prasad Mahto of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and independent candidate Jairam Mahto are the other key contenders in the polls to be held on May 20 in the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Political dynamics
Three-way Contest: Traditionally an NDA bastion, with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Ravindra Kumar Pandey holding the seat for a decade between 2009 and 2019, Giridih is all set to witness a triangular contest with independent candidate and firebrand leader Jairam Mahto in the fray who has mobilised the Mahto vote bloc against his opponents from the National Democratic Alliance and JMM, who are also from the Mahto community.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) bagged three seats— Giridih, Dumri, and Tundi, while the AJSU, Congress, and BJP got one each, namely Gomia, Bermo, and Baghmara, respectively.
‘Tiger’ Jairam Mahto’s Googly: Among all the contenders, the one generating the most buzz is the young Jairam Mahto and his outfit Jharkhand Bhasha Khatian Sangharsh Samiti. Although the JBKSS has fielded candidates on eight seats so far, the focus remains on Jairam Mahto and the Giridih Lok Sabha constituency. Jairam Mahto has thrown a spanner into traditional political calculations, introducing a dimension of uncertainty to this Lok Sabha election.
‘Tiger’ Mahto, known for his jeans and t-shirt attire, surged onto the political scene through the Bhasa Andolan, a movement that galvanised the youth. He continued his fiery trail with fierce speeches on local issues, all while standing out of his vehicle which became his signature style.
Judging by the impact of his speeches and the size of the crowds organically drawn by him, he is a clear threat to his opponents. He appears to have swayed the dominant OBC Kurmi-Mahto community, especially the youth. A section of the Muslim youth is also enamoured by this new and combative youth leader.
He stirred up further publicity when the police showed up to arrest him on the day of his nomination for the Lok Sabha polls. The move was made on the basis of an FIR associated with protests he participated in previously. Large crowds blocked their way and prevented the arrest all while Mahto reportedly delivered a dramatic speech challenging the administration.
NDA Faces Trouble: Incumbent MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary has been nominated for a second time to contest from this constituency on behalf of the NDA. The NDA in alliance with Choudhary’s AJSU has assigned Giridih to the party while the BJP contests in the remaining 13 Lok Sabha seats of Jharkhand.
In 2019, the All Jharkhand Students Union Party backed by the BJP won the seat with a massive margin of over 2.48 lakh votes and a total vote share of almost 59%. However, seeking a second term, Choudhary is caught on the wrong foot here as he faces a wave of anti-incumbency and dissatisfaction with his performance as an MP. Most interactions by reporters on the ground reveal that the MP lacks the desired connection with his constituents, and he also does not have a memorable record in terms of pushing for development or welfare. Moreover, a statement made by him during the Ramgarh bypoll endorsing his wife, Sunita Choudhary, who was in the fray, has irked a section in Giridih. He had told the media that he could leave Giridih but not Ramgarh. While that election was ultimately won, it has jeopardised his home turf in Giridih.
Further, Choudhary does not enjoy the favourable circumstances that prevailed in 2019 when the Narendra Modi factor was at a high point and the Mahto vote bloc leaned overwhelmingly in support of the NDA. This time, while the Modi magic persists, the Mahtos are seemingly swayed by the politics of independent candidate Jairam Mahto. The Mahto community forms over 15% of the voting population, constituting a consequential bloc.
The Modi factor remains prevalent, bolstered by the BJP’s focus on the Ayodhya Ram temple and Hindutva politics, which members of forward as well as backward castes lean towards. Moreover, welfare schemes, primarily the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, which ensured free ration for the poor, is a major contributor when it comes to attracting votes for the NDA. Kisan Samman Nidhi, Awas Yojana, and other central schemes have also made their way partially despite differences with the JMM-led state government. The idea of a double-engine government is another focal point in the BJP’s campaign, which may help draw voters. The NDA also hopes that cushioned by a lead of 2.48 lakh votes in 2019, much of the Mahto wrath may be absorbed without losing.
JMM on the Sidelines: In 2019, JMM scored 36.1% of the vote against the NDA in Giridih. However, with a triangular contest playing out this time, its position is at greater risk. Supported by the INDIA bloc, JMM has chosen Mathura Prasad Mahto as its candidate for the Giridih Lok Sabha constituency. He has served as a three-time MLA from the Tundi assembly segment, which is situated within the Giridih Lok Sabha constituency, elected in 2005, 2009, and 2019. Additionally, he held the position of Minister of Revenue and Land Reforms in the first Hemant Soren government.
Mathura Mahto is a well-known face, who is famous for maintaining a “simple” profile, remaining accessible to his constituents. With the Mahto vote already split between the NDA and Jairam Mahto, there is little hope that Mathura, despite being a senior Mahto leader, would be able to fight for this bloc.
He is banking on the winds of sympathy that blow for former chief minister Hemant Soren who remains arrested on corruption charges. Soren’s absence from public view has not been lost on the core vote bank of the JMM, especially among the 15% of tribal voters who are expected to lean heavily in favour of the JMM. Moreover, the JMM is also relying on minority voters from the Muslim community comprising about 17% of the vote.
The party’s reign in the state government is also an advantage, with one example being the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana, a scholarship plan of Rs 40,000 for students in classes 8 to 12. The party hopes to consolidate its vote bank with its schemes and the Hemant Soren factor.
Voter demographics (2011 Census)
- Total voters (2019): 16,88,854
- Urban: 39.1%
- Rural: 60.9%
- Literacy: 59.06%
- SC: 11.3%
- ST: 15.3%
- Hindu: ~82%
- Muslim: 17%
- Christian: 0.57%
Key issues
Unemployment and Migration: Among major issues in this constituency are the lack of jobs and migration of youth in search of labour work and other forms of employment outside the state. Despite having industrial units such as the Bokaro Steel Plant and the presence of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), there are limited benefits for locals who claim to lose out on employment to outsiders.
Drinking Water: A similar issue persists across villages in this constituency and that is about the poor quality of drinking water. Harmful concentrations of arsenic and fluoride in water sourced from borewells pose an array of risks to people’s health, especially as the consumption is directly from groundwater sources.
Illegal Mining: Giridih also falls in the heavily mined area of the Chotanagpur plateau. Illegal coal and sand mining is rampant in the Dhanbad mining circle along with mining for several other minerals including mica. Unchecked mining has caused further problems for villagers who find their water sources contaminated. Also, an incident in the Kanhai village aptly depicts the direness of the situation, as a report states that stone mine operators have “occupied” a building that was formerly a primary school. The building now houses the workers and their machines even as villagers seek to draw the administration’s attention to the offence.
Farmers’ Issues: This region of Jharkhand is prone to severe droughts. In the last few years, droughts have caused tremendous damage to farmers’ livelihoods. Moreover, their struggle is exacerbated by a lack of irrigation facilities. While the PM Kusum Yojana is meant to aid farmers with solar-powered irrigation pumps and has seen success in some villages, it is yet to bring most farmers into its fold. Demands concerning MSP, debt relief, and greater crop insurance cover are also seen here.
Man vs Wild: This is a serious issue affecting communities that dwell near the forests. Elephant attacks are frequent in such villages, causing property damage and loss of life. Moreover, the threat of attacks by leopards, elephants, and even swarms of bees keeps residents in fear as they tread close to forested areas.
Infrastructure
Highway Connectivity: Over the last decade, highway connectivity has significantly improved with National Highway 114A being revamped with widened roads, connecting the region with West Bengal. The government has granted approval for the development of a two-lane bypass road with paved shoulders encircling Giridih town on National Highway-114, with an estimated cost of Rs 438.34 crore. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari emphasised that the proposed Giridih Bypass will shorten travel time from Ranchi to Deoghar. Additionally, the construction of a bypass road around Giridih city is expected to foster socio-economic growth in the region.
Amrit Bharat Station: Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, railway stations in Giridih and Bokaro Steel City are in the process of receiving a makeover.
Vistadome Coach: This modern rail coach was flagged off from the New Giridih station, which caught the attention of middle-class passengers.
State Government’s Development Push: Under the JMM government and the BJP government preceding it, the internal road network in the state has improves significantly, helping villages enter the mainstream. Recently, Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren announced development projects totalling Rs 587 crore in Giridih district. Among these projects, there was a Rs 66-crore dairy plant in Yogitand, for which he laid the foundation stone. The plant will be capable of processing 50,000 litres of milk per day.
New University: For seventy years, students from Giridih have had to travel 115 kilometres for university-related activities and pursuing their postgraduate degree courses. Finally, the youth will be able to pursue higher education in their own city with the establishment of Sir JC Bose University. Led by new chief minister Champai Soren, the cabinet approved the university’s establishment, covering Giridih and Koderma, the two most educationally backward districts in India. The university, with a budget exceeding Rs 300 crore, will be spread over 70 acres and include amenities like sports grounds and residences for faculty members. Additionally, all colleges in the Giridih and Koderma districts will fall under its jurisdiction.
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