Maiya Samman scheme helps JMM surge ahead in Jharkhand elections
Hindustan TimesEarly trends showed that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha -led INDIA bloc was set to sweep the elections in tribal-dominated seats of Jharkhand, with its direct benefit transfer scheme for women, known as Maiya Samman, appearing to be a game-changer for the alliance. According to the trends, the BJP has performed poorly in rural areas, except a few seats, such as Potka, where former chief minister Arjun Munda’s wife Meera Munda was leading by over 11,000 votes. Former chief minister Champai Soren, who quit the JMM and joined the BJP weeks before the elections, was locked in a close fight with his former protege Ganesh Mahali of his previous party in Saraikela. For JMM, chief minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren were ahead of their rivals whereas Hemant’s brother, Basant, was trailing from party bastion Dumka in Santhal Pargana.