Ranchi/Dumka: Sanathal Paraganas, inextricably woven into history for the rebellion, has long been known as an impregnable bastion of JMM. The division comprises six districts Dumka, Pakur, Sahibganj, Jamtara, Godda and Deoghar which send 18 members to the assembly. Seven of these--Borio, Barhet, Littipara, Maheshpur, Shikaripara, Dumka, Jama-- are reserved for ST while Deoghar is for SC. The remnant Rajmahal, Pakur, Nala, Jamtara, Jarmundi, Madhupur, Sarath, Poraiyahat, Godda and Mahagama are unreserved although the indigenous Santhals have always held sway here.
Tribal leader Shibu Soren has been the chief minister thrice for short periods. His son, Hemant Soren has also been a three-time chief minister which demonstrates how Santhals determine the party morale.
JMM was the victor in Barhet, Littipara, Maheshpur and Shikaripara seats in the 2005 elections while BJP got only Borio and Jama. While Stephen Marandi won from Dumka as an independent, BJP's Mohril Murmu came second and JMM's Hemant Soren came third. This was a time when Shibu Soren's eldest son Durga Soren was defeated by Sunil Soren in Jama.
JMM bagged Borio, Barhet, Littipara, Shikaripara, Dumka and Jama in 2009 when Hemant Soren won from Dumka and his sister-in-law, Sita Soren, won Jama. JVM's Mistry Soren won the Maheshpur seat. This was the year when BJP did not win a single ST seat.
The 2014 Modi wave failed to catalyse Santhal votes but BJP gained a psychological advantage by winning Borio and Dumka while JMM retained Barhet, Littipara, Maheshpur, Shikaripara and Jama.
In 2019, JMM repeated its show in Borio, Barhet, Littipara, Maheshpur, Shikaripara, Dumka and Jama. What was noticeable BJP came second in all seven ST seats. Jama saw a close contest where the victory margin was a sliver of 2,426 votes.
Deoghar went to JDU's Kameshwar Nath Das in 2005, RJD's Suresh Paswan in 2009, and BJP's Narayan Das in 2014 and 2019. RJD remained in second place losing by a margin of just 2,624 votes.