The battle for Jamshedpur East in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections is heating up, with former encounter specialist Dr. Ajoy Kumar, the Congress candidate, making a determined push to reclaim his former seat. Kumar, known for his tough stance against crime during his time as the SP of Jamshedpur, is now focusing on development and promises a brighter future for the constituency.
He is facing stiff competition from Purnima Das Sahu, the BJP candidate and daughter-in-law of former Chief Minister Raghubar Das. The first phase of polling is just four days away, and Jamshedpur East is one of the 43 assembly constituencies going to the polls. Kumar has intensified his campaign, leaving no stone unturned to personally connect with as many voters as possible. He is visiting over 15 to 18 places every day, touching the feet of elders, embracing people his age, and calling young people ‘Beta’ and ‘Beti.’
“Just give me one chance and it will make this city a better place. You all have seen me, what I did while serving as the SP of Jamshedpur,” Kumar said during a foot march in the Nirmal Nagar locality.
Known for his strong personality and decisiveness, Kumar has a rich political history. He started his political journey with Babulal Marandi’s party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM), which later merged with the BJP. He entered Parliament in 2011 after winning the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha elections on a JVM ticket. He later joined the Congress but lost the 2014 Lok Sabha election as a Congress candidate amid the Modi wave.
His most popular slogan echoing in the air of Jamshedpur East is: “Jo Kiya Tha Khaki Mein, Ab Karenge Khadi Mein” (What I did in the police uniform, will do in Kurta). This slogan encapsulates Kumar’s promise to use his experience and leadership to bring positive change to the constituency.
Jamshedpur East has been a BJP stronghold, with Das winning the seat five times. However, in the previous election, the then incumbent Chief Minister was defeated by rebel BJP leader and Independent candidate Saryu Roy, who has now shifted to Jamshedpur West and is contesting as a Janata Dal- (United) candidate.
Kumar’s campaign strategy reflects his commitment to connect with the people. He even visited Chhath ghats during the festival to seek blessings from devotees. Clad in a yellow Kurta, he navigated the crowded ghats of Mahanand Basti, offering greetings to everyone with folded hands. He visited over 10 ghats on the third day of the Chhath festival, focusing on building relationships and reminding people of his good deeds while refraining from delivering political speeches.
His popularity in Jamshedpur stems from his time as the city’s SP from 1994 to 1996. The then Tata Steel MD, JJ Irani, requested the then Chief Minister, Lalu Prasad, to send a capable officer to control the rising crime rate in Jamshedpur. Responding to Irani’s request, Lalu sent Kumar to Jamshedpur, where he quickly brought the crime situation under control. His success earned him the moniker ‘encounter specialist’ and made him a star among the residents.
Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Shanti Nagar, said, “I still remember those days when he was SP of Tatanagar and the way he controlled the crime. He is a good candidate and very much into the fight.”
Kumar is confident about his vision and roadmap for the development of Jamshedpur East. He is actively engaging in foot marches and ‘Sampark Abhiyan’ to reach out to even the remotest areas. To ensure maximum efficiency, he wakes up at 4 AM and starts his campaign activities by 5 AM. He fuels his energy with Starbucks coffee, which he enjoys regularly during his campaign.
Kumar’s key promises include improved education, better roads, reliable electricity, solutions to drinking water problems, and granting land ownership to residents through Patta (legal land document). He believes that the BJP has deceived people for 30 years by promising land rights. “I will take forward all the pending schemes in Jamshedpur East and get them implemented. No one will be left out, Jamshedpur East will now develop,” he stated.
Kumar has recently written a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), accusing Das of using her constitutional position to campaign for her daughter-in-law while camping in the city for several days.
Asked about why people should vote for him, Kumar told The Hindu, “I will protect the interests of all sections. I will be accessible. There are a lot of contract laborers who cannot afford the fee of private schools, so we need a model government school. I am asking them once because they have seen me as a SP and MP. I have been working for the people for the past 10 years without any political post. It’s my town, I have worked here, and I have a home as well.”
The upcoming Jharkhand Assembly Elections are set to be a nail-biter, with Jamshedpur East emerging as a key battleground. Dr. Ajoy Kumar’s campaign, fueled by his past successes and a promise of a brighter future, has the potential to swing the vote in his favor. The people of Jamshedpur East will ultimately decide whether to trust him with the responsibility of shaping their city’s future.
