‘Govt. will have to listen to us’: Devendra Nath Mahato joins ‘Vidhan Sabha gherao’ march

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahato of the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) joined the Vidhan Sabha Gherao march on Monday (August 10, 2026), protesting exam irregularities and demanding the state government listen to their demands. Carrying the portrait of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren, Mahato revealed that he had been on a hunger strike for nine days at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, the main protest site.

Despite fasting, he chose to come to the march in an ambulance, emphasizing he is a common man, not a hero. Mahato urged the public not to elevate him to a god-like status and clarified that his personal life would remain unchanged. However, he expressed frustration at the barbed wire barricades, which caused more pain than his hunger strike.

Mahato specifically called on CM Hemant Soren to refrain from taking police action against the protestors, citing the potential for injury or unrest, as seen in the Jantar Mantar incident. He urged the CM to avoid actions that could lead to bloodshed or harm to the crowd. Mahato concluded that if the government fails to address their demands, it would be remembered as the party responsible for endangering democracy.