Jamshedpur: The counting of votes for the Ghatshila by-election began on a charged note on Friday morning, with the JMM camp erupting in loud celebrations as party candidate Somesh Soren secured a strong early lead. The atmosphere outside the strong room at Jamshedpur Co-operative College, where the counting was underway, transformed into a festival-like scene immediately after counting commenced at 8 am. BJP’s Babulal Soren started trailing in the very beginning.
From the very first round, Somesh Soren surged ahead, taking an impressive lead of 3,246 votes, sending waves of excitement across the JMM camp. Supporters waved party flags, danced to the rhythmic beats of dhol, burnt crackers, and flashed V-signs as the early figures brought fresh energy and confidence. With each subsequent round, Soren continued to maintain a comfortable margin, further strengthening the party’s optimism.
Drum players kept the momentum alive, breaking into celebratory beats after the announcement of every round. The JMM tent, set up near the strong room alongside a similar BJP enclosure, quickly became the centre of jubilant activity. In contrast, the atmosphere in the BJP camp grew tense and quiet, with leaders and supporters closely monitoring the numbers but refraining from public reactions.
“The verdict was clear from day one. We were confident of our victory, and today’s early trends prove that the people of Ghatshila trust Hemant’s vision and leadership,” said Kunal Sarangi, JMM leader. “Every party worker has worked tirelessly for this moment. Their dedication has paid off, and voters have placed their faith in our candidate once again.”
As the rounds progressed and Soren’s lead solidified, the mood within the JMM rank-and-file grew increasingly festive. At the JMM office in Kadma, activities peaked as workers gathered to follow the live developments, eagerly awaiting the final declaration. Once the results were confirmed, party members poured into the streets in full celebration mode, distributing sweets, bursting crackers, and raising slogans of victory.
The early trend has not only boosted morale in the JMM but also indicated a potential return of the seat to the party’s fold, reinforcing its strong presence in the region. Meanwhile, silence prevailed in the BJP camp, which was banking on a close contest but found the early momentum slipping away.
Historically, Ghatshila has been a JMM stronghold. The Congress held sway here till 2009, after which Ramdas Soren’s victory marked the rise of the JMM. Even the 2014 Modi wave could only briefly dislodge the party, which reclaimed the seat in 2019 and strengthened its hold further in 2024 when Ramdas Soren defeated BJP’s Babulal Soren by over 22,000 votes. His untimely death turned this by-election into an emotional and political test for the ruling party.
