Jamshedpur: Despite senior members campaigning extensively for BJP-backed candidates in three districts of Kolhan division, they could win only a lone mayoral post out of the eight civic bodies that went to polls.Top functionaries, including Union ministers Giriraj Singh and Sanjay Seth, state working president Aditya Sahu, former CMs Arjun Munda, Raghubar Das, Madhu Koda and Champai Soren, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Mahato and former MP Geeta Koda, canvassed for the candidates and revived poll strategies, but the party gained nothing substantial in the civic polls.“In Jugsalai and Mango, the party overlooked the opinion of ‘karyakartas’ and gave tickets to candidates who were never in public life, nor did they have any connection with the people prior to the municipal election. So we faced defeats,” claimed a district BJP member.Party insiders said the decision to call Singh to campaign in Jugsalai backfired.“We thought Giriraj’s roadshow would consolidate Hindu votes, but it worked the other way round and we lost the chairperson’s seat,” said a BJP member who was part of the team that took the call to invite the Union minister. Jamshedpur Mahanagar Committee general secretary, Anil Modi, refused to accept that party-backed candidates did not do well in Jamshedpur.“In Jugsalai we lost by some 700-plus votes. In Mango, the vote difference was huge. The party will analyse the results and take corrective action,” said Anil Modi, who was elected as a ward councillor from Jugsalai.BJP members in West Singhbhum blamed the local administration for the defeat of party-backed candidates.“We were leading till the fourth round, but the counting officials showed partiality to ensure the win of JMM-supported candidate,” alleged BJP’s Chaibasa district unit president Geeta Oraon.BJP members said that in Chakulia and Seraikela, lack of proper booth management led to defeats. “The reason behind our lone win (Adityapur mayoral seat) was loyal voters, who are in majority in Adityapur,” said a former Seraikela-Kharsawan BJP district president.
