Jharkhand Election 2024: This time in the Jharkhand assembly elections, there is a tough contest between the ruling Indian Alliance and the NDA. After the festival of Diwali has passed, the political turmoil in the state has become more intense and the era of big leaders has started. This time the reputation of the Soren clan as well as many former Chief Ministers is at stake in the assembly elections.
Apart from the current Chief Minister Hemant Soren, two former Chief Ministers Babulal Marandi and Champai Soren are themselves contesting the elections. Former Chief Minister and JMM leader Shibu Soren’s two sons and two daughters-in-law have also contested the elections. With three more people close to former Chief Ministers Arjun Munda, Madhukoda and Raghuvar Das contesting the elections, they too face a big challenge to save their reputation.
Four members of Soren clan entered the election battle
Veteran JMM leader and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren has kept himself away from active politics due to ill health, but four members of his clan are in the electoral battle. This time, Shibu Soren himself is not contesting the elections, but his middle son and Chief Minister Hemant Soren has contested from his stronghold Barhet. Hemant’s wife Kalpana Soren is contesting from Gandey seat from where she reached the assembly after winning the by-election.
Shibu Soren’s younger son Basant Soren is contesting from Dumka on JMM ticket. His elder daughter-in-law Sita Soren had joined BJP after breaking ties with JMM before the Lok Sabha elections. She has contested the elections from Jamtara on BJP ticket. Sita Soren is the wife of JMM leader Shibu Soren’s late elder son Durga Soren.
Arjun Munda’s political influence at stake
Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda had lost the election from Khunti seat during the recently held Lok Sabha elections. He himself is not contesting the assembly elections, but his wife Meera Munda has contested from Potka seat on BJP ticket. He is facing a tough challenge from JMM candidate and sitting MLA Sanjeev Sardar.
Sanjeev Sardar is considered to have a strong hold on Potka. In 2019, he defeated BJP candidate Maneka Sardar by 43,110 votes. In such a situation, this time along with Meera Munda, the political influence of her husband Arjun Munda is also at stake.
Responsibility of inheritance on Raghuvar’s daughter-in-law
Raghuvar Das, the first leader to complete a five-year tenure as Chief Minister in Jharkhand, is not in active politics these days. These days he is the Governor of Odisha. In 2019, he himself lost his seat and his party was also out of power in Jharkhand. This time his daughter-in-law Purnima Das Sahu is the BJP candidate from his traditional Jamshedpur East seat.
This seat is considered the stronghold of Raghuvar Das and he has won elections from here five times. However, in 2019 he had to face defeat at the hands of Saryu Rai. Now the responsibility of handling the political legacy of her father-in-law has fallen on the shoulders of the daughter-in-law. Congress has laid a strong siege against him by fielding veteran leader and former MP Ajay Kumar.
Babulal Marandi stuck in tough competition
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister and BJP state president Babulal Marandi is once again contesting from Dhanwar assembly seat. He had won this seat in 2019 whereas he had to face defeat in the 2014 assembly elections. Two candidates each from India Alliance have contested against him.
JMM has nominated Nizamuddin Ansari and CPI has nominated Rajkumar Yadav. He is also facing a tough challenge in his constituency. 25 percent Muslim vote in Dhanwar has created problems for him.
The reputation of Champai and his son is at stake.
After JMM leader Hemant Soren went to jail, Champai Soren took command of Jharkhand, but after coming out of jail, Hemant took command again. Angered by this, Champai Soren, who left JMM, is contesting from Seraikela assembly seat on BJP ticket.
BJP has fielded Champai Soren’s son Babulal Soren from Ghatshila assembly seat. JMM has used its full force against Champai and his son. Hemant Soren wants to teach him a lesson of leaving the party by defeating him in the elections.
‘Do or die’ fight for Koda family
Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Madhu Koda is away from the electoral battle this time too, but his wife Geeta Koda is contesting on BJP ticket from Jagannathpur assembly seat. He is facing a tough challenge from JMM’s sitting MLA Sonaram Sinku.
BJP had also fielded Geeta Koda in the electoral battle during the Lok Sabha elections but she had to face defeat during the elections. In such a situation, the assembly elections have become very important for them. The assembly election battle has turned into a ‘do or die’ battle for him and Madhukoda.
