2.55 lakh voters to elect new MLA today
Manpreet Bhatia
Jamshedpur, Nov 10: The stage is set for a closely contested battle in the Ghatsila Assembly by-election, where the reputation of former Chief Minister Champai Soren and the legacy of late minister Ramdas Soren are both on the line. Voting will take place on November 11, and the district administration has completed all necessary arrangements to ensure free, fair, and peaceful polling. A total of 2,55,820 voters will decide the fate of candidates in the Ghatsila Assembly bypoll, including 1,24,899 men, 1,30,921 women, and three third-gender voters across 300 polling booths.
The by-election in Ghatsila was necessitated by the death of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former state education Minister Ramdas Soren. A popular figure with deep roots in the region, his passing left a political vacuum and emotional impact on local voters. The election outcome will now determine who carries forward his legacy as the next representative of Ghatsila.
Although 14 candidates are contesting, the main fight is expected among two — the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The JMM has fielded Somesh Soren, son of the late Ramdas Soren, banking on sympathy and the party’s traditional support base in the area. The BJP, on the other hand, has nominated Babulal Soren, son of former Chief Minister Champai Soren, hoping to regain influence in this tribal-dominated seat.
Adding a twist to the contest, Jairam Mahto’s Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) has fielded Ramdas Murmu, who is expected to make the battle more competitive by drawing votes from both major parties. Political observers believe that the JLKM’s performance could be a deciding factor in the final outcome.
The by-election is being seen as a major political test not only for BJP candidate Babul Soren but also for his father, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, widely known as the “Kolhan Tiger.” A prominent tribal leader from the region, Champai Soren was once a key figure in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and a close associate of the late party patriarch, Shibu Soren. However, ahead of last year’s Assembly elections, he quit the JMM and joined the BJP, citing humiliation by the party leadership.
In the 2024 elections, Champai Soren retained the Seraikela (ST) seat for the BJP, proving his personal influence in the tribal belt. However, his inability to deliver broader gains for the saffron party raised questions about his long-term political impact. The Ghatsila bypoll now presents another challenge—whether he can ensure victory for his son, Babul Soren, who had earlier lost to the late JMM MLA Ramdas Soren. Following Ramdas Soren’s death in August, the by-election was announced, with his son Somesh Chandra Soren now contesting as the JMM-led alliance candidate.
Champai Soren has been actively campaigning for Babul, while the BJP has deployed 40 star campaigners, including Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. The party hopes to use the contest to strengthen its presence among tribal voters.
“The BJP will definitely win this time because voters have realized that the INDIA Bloc government has failed them on every front—employment, governance, and appeasement politics,” Champai Soren said.
Political observers believe the result may not affect the Hemant Soren-led government’s stability but will significantly influence Champai Soren’s standing within the BJP and his political relevance in the Kolhan region.
The counting of votes will take place on November 14, after which the political fate of Ghatsila will be decided — and with it, the direction of one of Jharkhand’s most closely watched assembly constituencies.
