Congress-JMM rift may shape Ghatshila Assembly by-election battle

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Oct 13:  The upcoming by-election for the Ghatshila Assembly seat in Jharkhand is shaping up to be a fierce political contest, likely marked by tensions between the alliance partners Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The seat fell vacant following the demise of sitting MLA Ramdas Soren, a senior JMM leader, and now both parties appear to be charting uncertain paths ahead of the polls.

Though Congress and JMM have maintained an alliance since 2005, their relationship has often been marred by internal rifts, rebellion and mutual distrust. This history of fluctuating loyalty makes the Ghatshila by-election a critical test for the stability of their coalition.

The JMM has yet to announce its candidate, but names such as Somesh Soren, Victor Soren and Surajmani Soren are reportedly under consideration. The party is expected to face a dual challenge — retaining its traditional tribal vote bank while countering potential dissidence within the alliance.

Adding to the intrigue, veteran Congress leader and former Ghatshila MLA Dr. Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu recently expressed his willingness to contest the by-election. However, his hopes were dashed when Congress high command declared full support for the JMM candidate as part of the alliance agreement.

According to party sources, Dr. Balmuchu remains deeply dissatisfied with the decision and may consider contesting as an independent candidate or under a different symbol. Sources indicate that he has been in Kolkata for the past two days, possibly for consultations or personal discussions regarding his next move.

The Ghatshila constituency has historically witnessed a “sweet and sour” political relationship between the Congress and JMM. While the seat has been a JMM stronghold in recent years, Congress has also enjoyed electoral success in the past.

A look at past elections underscores this pattern of rivalry and realignment:

2005 Assembly Elections: Congress candidate Pradeep Balmuchu won with over 50,000 votes, defeating Ramdas Soren, who rebelled from JMM and contested as an independent, securing 35,000 votes.

2009 Elections: The JMM-Congress alliance broke down, and Ramdas Soren won the seat for JMM.

2014 Elections: The alliance did not materialize again, yet Ramdas Soren retained the seat.

2019 Elections: Balmuchu rebelled against Congress and joined AJSU but lost to Ramdas Soren.

The alliance between JMM and Congress remained intact in the 2024 elections, and Ramdas Soren won on a JMM ticket.

With JMM aiming to consolidate its tribal base and the BJP preparing to challenge both alliance partners, the Ghatshila by-election promises to be a decisive battle that could reshape the region’s political equation.