Jamshedpur: The political temperature in Ghatshila assembly constituency rose sharply on Tuesday as Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi addressed a massive rally in support of BJP candidate Babulal Soren ahead of the by-election. The rally, held under the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency, saw strong attacks on the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government, with BJP leaders claiming that “change is inevitable” in Ghatshila.
Chief Minister Majhi, while addressing the gathering, said that Jharkhand has failed to capitalise on its vast mineral wealth and continues to suffer from unemployment and poor governance. Drawing a comparison between the two states, he asserted that Odisha has made significant strides in development under the “double-engine government” led by the BJP.
“Odisha is moving ahead on the path of progress, and the double-engine government has ensured that benefits of development reach every household. In contrast, despite being rich in minerals, Jharkhand continues to face backwardness due to the inefficiency of its government,” Majhi said, while predicting that “the winds of change are blowing strongly in Ghatshila.”
Majhi claimed that the people of Jharkhand are increasingly impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and that the BJP’s victory in the Ghatshila by-election is “certain.” He added that the NDA is also gaining strong support in Bihar, where general elections are currently underway alongside several state by-elections.
The Odisha Chief Minister was joined on stage by senior BJP leaders including former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato, and Sido Kanhu’s descendant Mandal Murmu. All leaders took turns attacking the JMM-led state government, calling it a “failure on all fronts” — from employment and education to law and order.
The by-election in the Ghatshila assembly constituency has become a prestige battle between the ruling JMM and the opposition BJP. The contest is being closely watched as both parties intensify their outreach to voters. The seat fell vacant following the death of JMM MLA and Jharkhand Education Minister Ramdas Soren. The JMM has fielded his son, Somesh Soren, in an attempt to retain the family’s stronghold, while the BJP has placed its hopes on Babulal Soren to wrest the seat away.
With high-profile leaders hitting the campaign trail and both parties pulling out all stops, the Ghatshila by-election is shaping up to be one of the most fiercely contested political battles in the region — one that could set the tone for the political mood in Jharkhand ahead of future elections.
