To The Wire

In many ways, it was the much justifiably criticised Arjun Singh-inspiredCongress decision to go it alone with JMM that would seem to be the beginning ofthe end of the UPA hopes in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand. In addition, theNDA could well take some comfort in the fact that despite the abysmal trackrecord of its government, its targetting of union coal and mines minister ShibuSoren on "taint" charges may have helped turn the tables on itsopponents.

The rebel problem affected both the groups. Rebel JMM candidate Stephen Marandi avenged denial of party ticket, from his home constituency Dumka, by humblingthe son of his one-time mentor and Union Coal minister and JMM chief Sibu Soren,Hemant, to retain the seat for the fifth time. He claimed in Dumka that the setback for Shibu Soren was due to his "family-oriented politics" and added he would support the combine which would usher in peace and development in the state.To add to JMM chief's woes, Soren's eldest son Durga also suffered humiliating defeat at the hands of BJP's SunilSoren.

Sibu Soren, however, is brazen and blase as ever and claims that efforts areon to woo back party rebel Stephen Marandi. "Talks are going on. But I know at least he will not support theBJP. I have spoken to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, LJP president Ram VilasPaswan, NCP president Sharad Pawar, the Forward Block and independent candidates as the NDA has lostpopularity".

On the other hand, CM Arjun Munda's four cabinet colleagues - transport minister Madhavlal Singh(Ind), agriculture minister Debi Dhan Besra (BJP), rural development minister Chandra Mohan Prasad(BJP) and welfare minister Sudarshan Bhagat (BJP) lost. While Madhavlal Singh lost Gomia to BJP's ChhaturamMahto, Besra was made to bite the dust by Suphal Marandi (JMM) in Maheshpur. Prasad lost to JMM's Munnalal in Giridih and Bhagat was defeated by Bhusan Tirkey(JMM) in Gumla seat.

BJP rebel and former speaker Mrigendra Pratap Singh, who fought on RJD ticket from Jamshedpur (West) after being denied nomination byBJP, lost to senior BJP leader Saryu Rai.  Another former Speaker and JD(U) state chief Inder Singh Namdhari won Daltonganj seat for the fifth time, defeating his nearest rival Anil Kumar Chourasia(Ind). Former JPCC President Thomas Hansda won the Rajmahal seat beating rebel BJP MLA ArunMandal, who fought the election as independent, by over 10,000 votes.