Jharkhand Assembly Elections: Hemant Soren takes early lead in Barhait, Kalpana gains momentum in Gandey

Jamshepdur: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president and Chief Minister Hemant Soren has gained an early lead in the Barhait constituency (ST) as counting progresses for the Jharkhand Assembly elections held on November 23. Soren’s main opponent, BJP candidate Galiyel Hembrom, trails by over 700 votes in the initial trends.

Hemant Soren, who has represented Barhait since 2014, previously won the Dumka seat in 2009 and again in 2019 alongside Barhait, relinquishing Dumka in 2020. Over his political career, he has served as Jharkhand’s Deputy Chief Minister (2010–2013), Leader of the Opposition (2014–2019), and as a Rajya Sabha member (2009–2010).

This year, Soren faced a political storm after stepping down as Chief Minister following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31 in connection with a land scam. JMM leader Champai Soren briefly held the post during his absence. After securing bail, Soren resumed his role on June 28, 2024.

In Barhait, Soren’s rival, BJP’s Galiyel Hembrom, faces an uphill battle. Hembrom, a former teacher, contested on an AJSU-P ticket in 2019, receiving just 2,573 votes compared to Soren’s overwhelming 73,725. Following his defeat, he joined the BJP, while the party’s 2019 runner-up, Simon Malto, did not contest this year.

Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren, has also made her mark in these elections. Early trends show her leading from the Gandey constituency, with BJP candidate Muniya Devi trailing. Kalpana Soren has been the face of the ‘Maiya Samman Yojana,’ a scheme providing Rs 2,500 monthly to women aged 18–50 from marginalized communities. Inspired by similar initiatives in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the program aims to enhance women’s economic empowerment.

In the 2019 Gandey elections, BJP’s Jai Prakash Verma won with 48,838 votes (28.9% vote share), defeating JMM’s Salakhan Soren, who secured 38,559 votes (22.81%).

The Jharkhand Assembly elections were held in two phases, on November 13 and November 20, with Barhait voting in the second phase. Counting for all 81 constituencies began today, setting the stage for the state’s next political chapter as major players, including JMM, BJP, and Congress, await the final outcome.