Political Emergence and Administrative Developments in Jharkhand-II

The political landscape of Jharkhand during 2004–2005 was marked by major realignments, cabinet reshuffles, resignations, protests, and surprising electoral outcomes. Below is a comprehensive account of the major political events during this crucial period in the state’s history.

Cabinet Restructuring and Delhi Consultations

The Chief Minister of Jharkhand visited Delhi for consultations with senior leaders of BJP and JD(U).
Rajnath Singh also traveled to Delhi and participated in the discussions.
On 6 July 2004, the pace of political developments increased significantly due to the impending cabinet reshuffle.
Legal experts in Delhi and the Advocate General in Ranchi were consulted regarding the permissible size of the cabinet.

Constitutional Limit on Cabinet Size

As per the 91st Constitutional Amendment, the number of ministers in the Union and State Councils of Ministers should not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha/State Assembly.
Based on this, Jharkhand could have a maximum of 12 ministers in its cabinet.

JD(U) Withdraws from Government

JD(U) decided not to rejoin the government.
As a result, 8 BJP MLAs and 3 Independent MLAs retained their ministerial positions.

Reconstituted Cabinet Members

The ministers who retained their posts included:

BJP: P. N. Singh, Raghubar Das, Devighan Basera, Sudarshan Bhagat, Ravindra Rai, Dinesh Kumar Sarangi, Chandramohan Prasad, Yamuna Singh
Independents: Sudesh Mahto, Joba Majhi, Madhav Lal Singh

Ministers Dropped from Cabinet

Those who were removed included:

Mrigendra Pratap Singh
Sadhnu Bhagat
Neelkanth Singh Munda
Devdayal Kushwaha
Ramji Lal Sarda
Madhu Koda

Raghubar Das Appointed BJP State President

With the smaller cabinet in place, attention turned to the new BJP state president.
BJP National Vice President Babulal Marandi was reportedly upset and refused to attend the Delhi meeting on this issue.
It was speculated that Marandi preferred one of his loyalists to be appointed, but that did not materialize.
In the last week of July 2004, BJP high command decided to appoint Raghubar Das as state president.
The announcement was made on 25 July 2004, and the then-president Abhaykant Prasad resigned accordingly.

Shibu Soren’s Surrender and Jail Bharo Campaign

On 2 August 2004, JMM president Shibu Soren surrendered, heating up the political atmosphere.
Leader of the Opposition, Hussain Ansari, also surrendered in another case and was sent to judicial custody.
JMM workers reacted by launching a torchlight march and a Jail Bharo campaign in Ranchi, during which thousands were arrested.

Inder Singh Namdhari Resigns as Assembly Speaker

Inder Singh Namdhari resigned from the Speaker’s post on 11 August 2004.
He submitted his resignation to Deputy Speaker Amar Nath.
Proceedings began to appoint a Protem Speaker.

Mrigendra Pratap Singh Becomes Speaker

BJP nominated former Finance Minister Mrigendra Pratap Singh as their candidate for the Speaker post.
Due to lack of consensus in the opposition, he became the consensus candidate.
He assumed office as Speaker on 18 August 2004.
Dr. Saba Ahmed was elected Deputy Speaker.

Independence Day Flag Hoisting Controversy

On 15 August 2004, Governor Ved Prakash Marwah did not hoist the national flag in DUMKA, leading to a major controversy.
BJP termed it a conspiracy by the Centre and an insult to the people of Dumka.
Opposition blamed the state government for the incident.

Assembly Election Preparations Begin

Political activities intensified ahead of the Assembly elections.
BJP organized a 3-day strategy camp in Narwa to plan their campaign.
It was decided that BJP would improve coordination with JD(U).

Cabinet Reorganization – August 2004

On 25 August 2004, the cabinet was reshuffled again:
- Yamuna Singh was dismissed.
- Devdayal Kushwaha was sworn in as Cabinet Minister.
- Sudarshan Bhagat and Satyanand Bhogta took oath as State Ministers.

Parties Ramp Up Election Strategy

BJP’s Central Committee conducted a pre-election survey to assess the popularity of leaders and parties.
Congress held a strategy meeting in Ranchi, attended by National Secretary R. P. N. Singh.
Block presidents of Congress mostly opposed alliances with other parties.
Meanwhile, RJD announced in a rally that it would contest elections jointly with JMM and Congress.
In a populist move, the NDA increased retirement age for state employees from 58 to 60 years.
On 1 October 2004, the cabinet officially approved this decision.

Rebellion in JD(U)

On 27 October 2004, during a “Save Jharkhand Rally” in Ranchi, JD(U) leaders:
- Lalchand Mahato, Ramesh Singh Munda, Ramchandra Kesri, and Madhu Singh resigned from JD(U).
Later, Ramchandra Kesri, Madhu Singh, and Lalchand Mahato joined RJD.

BJP National Executive in Ranchi

In November 2004, BJP held its National Executive meeting in Ranchi.
Top leaders including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L. K. Advani, Narendra Modi, and Rajnath Singh addressed a public rally.
They urged the people to give BJP another chance.

Polarization Ahead of Assembly Elections

Before the elections, political alliances took clear shape:
- NDA: BJP and JD(U) allied for elections.
- UPA: JMM, Congress, and RJD failed to form a pre-poll alliance.
JMM even fielded candidates against Congress, calling it a friendly contest.
On most seats, all three UPA parties contested against each other.

2005 Assembly Election Results

Results were surprising and showed a fractured mandate:
- NDA: 36 seats (BJP – 30, JD(U) – 6)
- AJSU: 2 seats
- JMM: 17 seats
- Congress: 9 seats
- RJD: 7 seats
- UDGP: 2 seats
- Forward Bloc: 2 seats
- CPI-ML: 1 seat
- Independents: 4 seats

Both Alliances Stake Claim to Form Government

Both NDA and UPA presented their claims to the Governor to form the government.
On 28 February 2005, BJP MLAs re-elected Arjun Munda as their legislative leader.
Proposal was moved by Kariya Munda and seconded by Raghubar Das.
Arjun Munda resigned as caretaker CM to seek fresh mandate from the Governor.

Parade of Support and Tension at Raj Bhavan

On 1 March 2005, Arjun Munda met Governor Syed Sibtey Razi and submitted a list of 41 supporting MLAs.
He presented five Independent MLAs during a “parade” to demonstrate support:
- Sudesh Mahto
- Chandra Prakash Choudhary
- Harinarayan Rai
- Madhu Koda
- Enos Ekka
Tensions escalated as no decision was made by the Governor till late evening.
NDA leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Anant Kumar, Babulal Marandi, and others, sat in protest outside the Governor’s House.

Shibu Soren Sworn in as Chief Minister

On 2 March 2005, in a surprising move, Governor Syed Sibtey Razi swore in Shibu Soren as the new Chief Minister.
Alongside him, the following were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers:
- Stephen Marandi
- Joba Majhi
- Annapurna Devi
- Kamlesh Bhandu TIrkey
- Girinath Singh

Shibu Soren’s Swearing-in and the Initial Uproar

Shibu Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Stephen Marandi was given the rank of Deputy Chief Minister and claimed support from 42 MLAs.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Union Minister Priya Ranjan Das Munshi and AICC General Secretary Harikesh Bahadur.

The Drama of the Blocked Aircraft

After Soren’s swearing-in, the NDA decided to parade their supporting MLAs before the President of India.
A special aircraft was arranged at Ranchi Airport to transport 35 MLAs, along with former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and MP S.S. Ahluwalia.
The aircraft doors were shut, and take-off was approved.
Suddenly, at 7:30 PM on March 2, 2005, Stephen Marandi and Bandhu Tirkey arrived at the airport and stopped the aircraft.
They alleged that two Independent MLAs from Jharkhand had been kidnapped and were onboard.
Despite the serious allegation, no search of the aircraft was conducted.
At around 8:15 PM, both leaders returned to their homes.
On March 3, 41 MLAs were successfully paraded before the President in Delhi.

The Mysterious Journey of Five Independent MLAs

Two AJSU and three Independent MLAs made a secretive and theatrical journey to Delhi.
Their route: Ranchi → Durgapur → Kharagpur → Bhubaneswar (by train) → Delhi (via Indian Airlines).
These MLAs joined the NDA delegation at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, after witnessing the NDA parade, instructed Governor Syed Sibtey Razi to shorten the time given for proving majority on the Assembly floor.

Legal Battle and Political Tensions

Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda challenged the appointment of Shibu Soren as Chief Minister in the Supreme Court.
Congress MLA Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu was sworn in as the second Pro-tem Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly on March 7, 2005, by Governor Sibtey Razi.

Supreme Court’s Intervention

On March 9, 2005, the Supreme Court, in a significant ruling, ordered that the floor test in the Jharkhand Assembly should take place on March 11 instead of March 15.
The Court also put a stay on the nomination of the Anglo-Indian member.
The ruling was given by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti.

Shibu Soren’s Resignation

On March 11, 2005, Shibu Soren resigned as Chief Minister, ending the 9-day political drama.
This decision was influenced by a high-level meeting at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs advised his resignation after his government failed to prove majority in the House.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced this decision publicly.

Arjun Munda’s Return as Chief Minister

On March 12, 2005, Arjun Munda took oath for the second time as Chief Minister at a ceremony in Morabadi Ground, Ranchi.
Alongside him, Sudesh Kumar Mahto, Madhu Koda, Enos Ekka, Chandra Prakash Choudhary, and Hari Narayan Rai also took oath as ministers.
NCP MLA Kamlesh Singh was called for the ceremony but did not attend.
The event was attended by BJP national president L.K. Advani, NDA convener George Fernandes, Chhattisgarh CM Dr. Raman Singh, BJP leaders Ananth Kumar, Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and former CM Babulal Marandi.

Pro-tem Speaker and Speaker Election

Pradeep Balmuchu resigned as Pro-tem Speaker on March 12, 2005, upon the Governor’s request.
The new Cabinet recommended BJP’s senior leader Karia Munda as the next Pro-tem Speaker.
Karia Munda took the oath on March 13, 2005.

Speaker of the Assembly

The NDA nominated JD(U)’s Inder Singh Namdhari for the post of Speaker.
UPA nominated RJD leader Annapurna Devi.
On March 15, 2005, Inder Singh Namdhari was elected as Speaker, marking a big win for the NDA.
On the same day, Arjun Munda also won the trust vote in the Assembly.

Cabinet Expansion and Portfolio Allocation

On March 29, 2005, Arjun Munda expanded his cabinet and included:
- Raghubar Das
- Ramesh Singh Munda
- Radhakrishna Kishore
- Pradeep Yadav
- Kamlesh Singh
On March 30, 2005, portfolios were allocated:
- Sudesh Mahto: Home, Road Construction, Building Construction, Sports & Culture
- Madhu Koda: Mines, Geology, Cooperation, Parliamentary Affairs
- Enos Ekka: Rural Development, Transport
- Chandra Prakash Choudhary: Land Revenue, Registration, Science & Technology
- Raghubar Das: Finance, Commercial Tax, Urban Development
- Hari Narayan Rai: Forest, Environment, REO
- Pradeep Yadav: Human Resource Development
- Ramesh Singh Munda: Welfare
- Radhakrishna Kishore: Drinking Water & Sanitation

Internal Conflict within JD(U)

Radhakrishna Kishore’s appointment as minister triggered unrest within JD(U).
Ramesh Singh Munda wanted Jaleshwar Mahato to be part of the Cabinet, but his name was dropped.
Both Munda and Mahato claimed that JD(U)’s central leadership had decided to include Jaleshwar Mahato.
Meanwhile, a major controversy erupted as media reports suggested Ramesh Singh Munda had sought support from extremists during elections.
Home Minister Sudesh Mahto ordered a CID probe into the allegations.
The JD(U) crisis ended only after Radhakrishna Kishore resigned, and Jaleshwar Mahato was sworn in as a Cabinet minister.

The Aftermath: Reflections on Jharkhand Politics

The first government of Jharkhand collapsed within two years and four months.
The five-year period was marred by the consequences of a fractured mandate.
Ethics and political values eroded as the power struggle intensified.
Democratic norms suffered amid relentless political turmoil.
BJP leader Rajnath Singh emerged as a strategic mastermind, handing over leadership to the capable Arjun Munda.
Arjun Munda proved himself a skilled political leader, becoming CM in both 2003 and 2005.
Shibu Soren’s plans failed, and even a seasoned politician like Lalu Prasad Yadav faced setbacks.
Internal disputes and disunity within the UPA led to their Assembly election defeat.

A New Turn in 2006

In 2006, Jharkhand politics witnessed another shift.
Madhu Koda, Enos Ekka, Hari Narayan Rai, and Kamlesh Singh formed a faction and initiated talks with UPA constituents.
All had separate reasons to part ways with Arjun Munda.
RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav devised a fresh strategy to topple the Munda government.
Despite Munda’s last-minute efforts to save his government, he failed.

Political Turmoil and Leadership Changes in Jharkhand (2006–2010)

The years between 2006 and 2010 were marked by significant political instability in Jharkhand. This period saw the rise and fall of two chief ministers—Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren—amid a flurry of shifting alliances, withdrawal of support, and strategic resignations. Here’s a detailed look at this complex phase in Jharkhand’s political history:

Formation of Madhu Koda Government (2006)

In September 2006, the UPA constituents agreed to appoint Madhu Koda as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
On 18 September 2006, the Governor administered the oath of office to Madhu Koda.
Chandra Prakash Choudhary from AJSU was included in the cabinet to help stabilize the government.

Beginning of Political Crisis (August 2008)

In August 2008, political instability began when JMM chief Shibu Soren demanded a change in leadership while in Delhi.
His supporters, including MPs and MLAs, demanded that he be made the Chief Minister.
Initially, independent MLAs did not give clear support and rejected the idea of leadership change.
JMM MPs held a meeting in Delhi and gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the UPA to decide on Jharkhand leadership.
Congress maintained an ambiguous stance, stating no formal decision was made regarding either replacing Madhu Koda or appointing Shibu Soren.
However, Congress indicated that if Soren could gather adequate support, they would back him.
Shibu Soren warned that if he failed to gather full majority support, President’s Rule might be imposed in the state.

Withdrawal of Support by JMM (August 17, 2008)

Amid political tension, the Governor summoned the monsoon session of the Jharkhand Assembly from 19 to 25 September.
JMM decided to withdraw support from the Koda government on 17 August 2008.
On the set date, a six-hour marathon meeting was held with JMM legislators and the Central Committee in Ranchi.
In the evening, a 26-member JMM delegation led by Shibu Soren submitted a letter of withdrawal of support to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi.
Three JMM ministers—Sudhir Mahto, Nalin Soren, and Dulal Bhuiyan—also resigned from the cabinet.
With the withdrawal of support by 17 MLAs, Koda’s government was reduced to a minority, leaving the UPA with only 25 MLAs and 3 neutral ones.

Trust Vote Directive and Reactions

The Governor asked Madhu Koda to prove his majority in the Assembly by 25 August 2008.
Koda expressed confidence in securing a majority.
BJP State President P. N. Singh demanded the dismissal of the minority Koda government and called for President’s Rule to pave the way for new elections.
JVM President Babulal Marandi echoed similar demands.

Political Maneuvering and Shifting Alliances

JMM started reaching out to independents to gather support.
On 19 August, Sudhir Mahto and Durga Soren met with Health Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi and later with Irrigation Minister Kamlesh Singh to seek support for Soren.
Talks were also initiated with AJSU leaders Sudesh Mahto and Chandra Prakash Choudhary.

Congress and UPA Stand Becomes Clear

By 20 August, Congress began clarifying its position.
Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay already supported Soren.
State Congress President Pradeep Balmuchu declared that Congress would support Shibu Soren and vote in his favor in the Assembly.
Shibu Soren met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who assured him of UPA support.
The UPA leadership summoned Madhu Koda to Delhi and prepared to request his resignation.

Resignation of Madhu Koda (23 August 2008)

On 23 August 2008, Chief Minister Madhu Koda, along with five independent ministers—Stephen Marandi, Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Harinarayan Rai, Chandra Prakash Choudhary, and Joba Majhi—submitted his resignation to the Governor.
Thus ended the 23-month tenure of the Madhu Koda government.
Meanwhile, two BJP rebel MLAs—Vishnu Bhaiya and Manohar Tekariwal—extended support to Shibu Soren.
By 25 August, Kunti Singh also joined Soren’s camp.
AJSU President Sudesh Mahto announced that their party’s central committee would soon decide on support.
NDA held a press conference stating that the Governor should invite them to form the government, since BJP was the single largest party and NDA the largest alliance.
Prominent BJP leaders such as Yashwant Sinha, P. N. Singh, Inder Singh Namdhari, Raghubar Das, and Dinesh Sarangi were present at the conference.

Formation of Shibu Soren Government (27 August 2008)

Within 24 hours of Koda’s resignation, Shibu Soren gathered the required majority.
All independents, except Madhu Koda and Stephen Marandi, supported him.
Lalu Prasad helped bring all allies together.
This ended the uncertainty, and Soren was invited to form the government.
On 27 August 2008, at Morabadi Ground, Shibu Soren took oath as the sixth Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Governor Syed Sibtey Razi administered the oath to Soren and 11 cabinet ministers.
For the first time, Forward Bloc MLA Aparna Sengupta was inducted as a cabinet minister, replacing Chandra Prakash Choudhary.

Vote of Confidence and Challenges

On 29 August 2008, the Soren government won the vote of confidence in the Assembly.
After a six-hour debate, the government secured 42 votes in favor against 34.
Vishnu Bhaiya and Manohar Tekariwal were disqualified from voting.
Kunti Singh, a suspended BJP MLA, and nominated MLA J. P. Glostein were also barred from voting.

Post-Government Developments

After resigning, Madhu Koda was accused in October 2009 of illegally amassing assets worth ₹4,000 crore.
He spent over a year in jail due to these charges.

Shibu Soren’s Struggles with Assembly Seat

After becoming CM in December 2009, Shibu Soren needed to get elected to the Assembly.
He first requested Vishnu Bhaiya to vacate his seat—he agreed initially but later refused.
Soren then asked his daughter-in-law Sita Soren, who demanded a position as chairperson of a board or corporation in exchange—negotiations failed.
As the deadline of 30 June 2010 approached, pressure mounted.
MLA Paulus Surin agreed to vacate the Torpa seat but later backtracked.
Eventually, Soren’s son Hemant offered to vacate his Dumka seat, but that too fell through.

Fallout with BJP and Collapse of Soren Government

On 27 April 2010, Shibu Soren voted in favor of the UPA during the Cut Motion in Lok Sabha, angering the BJP.
This act strained the JMM-BJP alliance.
Soren tried to apologize by writing letters to BJP President Nitin Gadkari and senior leaders L. K. Advani and Sushma Swaraj.
Hemant Soren even offered to resign as CM to retain BJP’s support.
On 24 May 2010, BJP formally withdrew support from the Soren government and informed Governor M. O. H. Farook.
Governor gave Soren until 31 May 2010 to prove his majority.
Before the trust vote, Soren resigned, and on 1 June 2010, President’s Rule was imposed in Jharkhand.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved President’s Rule and suspension of the Assembly.

Appointment of Advisors During President’s Rule

During President’s Rule, the Governor appointed three advisors:
1. P. P. Sharma – Retired Chief Secretary
2. R. R. Prasad – Retired DGP
3. Wilfred Lakra – Retired IAS officer
In July 2010, the Lok Sabha approved President’s Rule in Jharkhand.

Political Scenario of Jharkhand (2010–2023): A Chronological Overview

Jharkhand’s political scene from 2010 to 2023 has witnessed frequent power shifts, coalition experiments, president’s rule, and dynamic party realignments. Here’s a detailed account:

Arjun Munda Government (2010–2013)

After 2–3 months of President’s Rule in 2010, fears of Assembly dissolution brought BJP and JMM closer again.
BJP legislative party chose Arjun Munda as its leader in September 2010.
On 7 September 2010, Munda submitted a list of 45 supporting MLAs to the Governor and staked a claim to form the government.
On 11 September 2010, Arjun Munda was sworn in as the 8th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
Hemant Soren (JMM) and Sudesh Mahto (AJSU) took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.
Munda later proved his majority on the floor of the Assembly.
Being an MP from Jamshedpur, Arjun Munda had to become a member of the state legislative assembly.
The MLA from Kharsawan resigned, paving the way for Munda’s by-election.
Munda defeated Dashrath Gagrai (JVM) by 17,000 votes; five other party candidates and four independents also contested.
After winning, Arjun Munda resigned from the Lok Sabha on 26 February 2011.

Fall of the Munda Government

In December 2012, JMM demanded power-sharing after 28 months of the alliance.
BJP denied any prior agreement, suggesting a coordination committee could discuss the matter.
Disputes continued, leading JMM to withdraw support.
On 8 January 2013, Hemant Soren submitted a letter of support withdrawal to the Governor.
Arjun Munda convened a cabinet meeting and recommended the dissolution of the Assembly.
He later submitted his resignation to the Governor.
The Governor advised him to continue under caretaker arrangements.

President’s Rule (2013)

On 17 January 2013, the Union Cabinet decided to impose President’s Rule in Jharkhand.
Jharkhand came under President’s Rule for the third time, effective 18 January 2013.
Former Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and ex-CRPF DG K. Vijay Kumar were appointed as advisers to the Governor.
President’s Rule lasted for over six months.
Later, K. Vijay Kumar was made a security adviser to the central government and replaced by Anand Shankar, ex-DGP of Bihar.
BJP leaders demanded dissolution of the Assembly, but the Centre retained it.
During President’s Rule, developmental decisions were prioritized, facilitating holistic growth.

Hemant Soren’s First Government (2013–2014)

As the President’s Rule neared its end, JMM and Congress began negotiations to form a government.
By early July, a green signal was given for JMM-led government formation.
On 10 July 2013, Hemant Soren and Congress leader Rajendra Prasad Singh claimed support of 43 MLAs.
The alliance included:
- JMM: 18
- Congress: 13
- RJD: 5
- Independents: 7 (Bandhu Tirkey, Chhama Linda, Geeta Koda, Harinarayan Rai, Enos Ekka, Videsh Singh, and Arup Chatterjee).
Congress made it clear that tainted independents would not be inducted as ministers.
On 11 July, Governor Syed Ahmed recommended the lifting of President’s Rule.
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal, clearing the way for a popular government.
13 July 2013: Hemant Soren was sworn in as the 9th Chief Minister.
Rajendra Prasad Singh (Congress) and Annapurna Devi (RJD) also took oath as ministers.
On 18 July, the Assembly convened for a trust vote.
Due to non-resignation of Speaker C. P. Singh, uncertainty lingered.
Eventually, Soren secured the trust vote with 43 votes in favor, and 37 against.
Complications included:
- Two JMM MLAs facing possible imprisonment.
- Congress MLA Sawna Lakra was jailed for a murder charge.
- JMM MLA Sita Soren surrendered and got bail.
- Accused Minister Nalin Soren got relief from the Supreme Court.
- MLA Dullu Mahto attended session with court permission.
In Feb 2014, Hemant Soren dismissed Chandrashekhar Dubey (Congress) from the cabinet for calling him “most corrupt.”
JMM inducted Vijay Hansda, son of ex-Congress leader Thomas Hansda.
Hemlal Murmu left JMM and joined BJP.
JMM MP from Palamu Kameshwar Baitha joined TMC after RJD was given his seat.
Bandhu Tirkey’s Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch and Chhama Linda’s National Welfare Council also merged with TMC.
JMM MLA Vidyut Varan Mahato joined BJP.

2014 Lok Sabha Elections

Narendra Modi’s campaign reshaped Jharkhand’s political balance.
Out of 14 Lok Sabha seats:
- BJP won 12
- JMM won 2 (Dumka and Rajmahal).
- Congress and RJD were wiped out.
New BJP faces who won included:
- Vishnu Dayal Ram (Palamu)
- Jayant Sinha (Hazaribagh)
- Sunil Singh (Chatra)

2014 Assembly Elections & Raghubar Das Government

Election Commission announced 5-phase Assembly elections in October 2014.
NDA-JVM talks collapsed after Babulal Marandi demanded the CM post.
BJP struck a deal with AJSU for 8 seats.
Seat-sharing issues between Congress and JMM led Congress to ally with RJD and JD(U):
- Congress: 66 seats
- RJD: 10
- JD(U): 5
On 23 December 2014, results were announced:
- BJP: 37
- AJSU: 5
- JMM: 19
- Congress: 6
- JVM(P): 8
- Others: 6
NDA received 42 seats and formed the government.
Raghubar Das became the 10th Chief Minister and the first non-tribal CM.
In 2015, six JVM(P) MLAs joined BJP: Naveen Jaiswal, Amar Bauri, Randhir Singh, Ganesh Ganjhu, Janki Yadav, and Alok Chaurasia.
2016 bypolls:
- Panki: Devendra Kumar Singh (Congress)
- Godda: Amit Kumar Mandal (BJP)
Ministers were inducted from AJSU and JVM(P) defectors.

Political Developments (2017–2023)

2017:
- Littiipada by-election won by Simon Marandi (JMM) after MLA Anil Murmu’s death.
2018:
- Gomia MLA Yogendra Mahto and Silli MLA Amit Mahto were disqualified after court verdicts.
- By-elections won by their wives: Babita Devi (Gomia) and Seema Mahto (Silli).
December 2019: Hemant Soren became Chief Minister for the second time.

By-Elections and Legal Disqualifications

2020:
- Bermo and Dumka seats became vacant due to death of Rajendra Prasad Singh and resignation of Hemant Soren.
- Winners:
  - Bermo: Kumar Jayamangal (Congress)
  - Dumka: Basant Soren (JMM)
2021:
- Madhupur by-election: Hafizul Hasan (JMM) defeated Ganga Narayan Singh (BJP). He was later made Minority Welfare Minister.
2022:
- Mandar seat became vacant after Bandhu Tirkey’s conviction.
- His daughter Shilpi Neha Tirkey (Congress) won the bypoll defeating Gangotri Kujur (BJP).
2023:
- Ramgarh MLA Mamta Devi was disqualified after a court verdict.
- In Feb 2023, Sunita Choudhary (AJSU), wife of Chandraprakash Choudhary, defeated Bajrang Mahto (Congress), husband of Mamta Devi.