SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 1: Although the election atmosphere in the coal belt has yet to gain full momentum, the preliminary scenario suggests that a rebel candidate may disrupt the Congress Party’s prospects, particularly in the Baghmara constituency of Dhanbad.
Independent candidate Rohit Yadav has entered the race, posing a potential threat to the official Congress candidate, Jaleshwar Mahto, who is in a direct contest with BJP candidate Shatrughan Mahto, the elder brother of Dhanbad MP Dhulu Mahto. The elections in Dhanbad are set for November 20 in the second phase.
Rohit Yadav’s political journey
Rohit Yadav, a seasoned coal trader, is a former Congress stalwart who was once a close associate of the late former minister OP Lal during the 1980s and 1990s. After a stint with the RJD, where he served as Baghmara block president, Yadav returned to the Congress three months ago and sought the party’s ticket for the Baghmara constituency.
However, after the Congress nominated Jaleshwar Mahto, Yadav filed his nomination as an independent candidate. Despite attempts by Jaleshwar Mahto and Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir who visited his home to persuade him to withdraw, Yadav remained firm in his decision.
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Political influence and local insights
Local political analysts believe that Rohit Yadav has a solid support base in the region. During the recent Lok Sabha elections, he campaigned for JMM candidate Mathura Prasad Mahto, securing over 50,000 votes in the Baghmara assembly segment, which falls under the Giridih Lok Sabha constituency.
Vijay Jha, a prominent social activist from Baghmara, cautioned against drawing early conclusions, stating that the electoral landscape will become clearer after the Chhath festival.
Historical context and implications for Congress
In the 2019 assembly elections, Congress candidate Jaleshwar Mahto narrowly lost to BJP’s Dhulu Mahto by just 824 votes, raising concerns that a division of party votes could prove detrimental to Mahto in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Jaleshwar Mahto has contested assembly elections from Baghmara seven times, winning twice—in the 2000 Bihar assembly election and the first assembly election of Jharkhand in 2005. His political journey includes an independent candidacy in 1990, where he surprised many by garnering 36,000 votes, and he faced significant defeats against established leaders like OP Lal.
In 1995, he ran as a candidate for Nitish Kumar’s Samta Party but was defeated by veteran leader and former minister OP Lal. However, in the 2000 Bihar assembly elections, he achieved his first victory by defeating OP Lal. He successfully retained his seat in the 2005 elections while running on a Janta Dal (United) ticket.
Unfortunately, he faced setbacks in the subsequent elections, losing to Dhulu Mahto in both 2009 and 2014.
In 2019, he joined the Congress in Delhi in the presence of Rahul Gandhi and contested from Baghmara, but the challenges he faces in this election could be significant, given the current political dynamics.
