Battle of the Sorens in Ghatsila: Somesh Chandra leads in JMM stronghold, BJP’s Babu Lal trails

Bypoll was necessitated by death of JMM MLA & former education minister Ramdas Soren 15 August. It’s first electoral test of Hemant Soren in his 2nd stint in power.

Somesh Chandra Soren with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren during filing of nomination. | Picture: ANI

New Delhi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate Somesh Chandra Soren is leading in the Ghatsila bypoll in Jharkhand by more than 11,00 votes over his nearest rival, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Babu Lal Soren.

MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato-led Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) candidate Ramdas Murmu has got about 6,900 votes, according to the election commission update around noon.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of JMM MLA and former education minister Ramdas Soren on 15 August. Somesh Chandra Soren is his son, while Babulal Soren is the son of former chief minister Champai Soren. 

The Ghatsila seat is reserved for tribals, and therefore, the JMM views the seat as a reinforcement of its appeal among the tribal population. The bypoll is, therefore, the first electoral test of Hemant Soren in his second stint in power. 

However, the result would not have any major effect on the government. In the 81-member state assembly, the JMM-led alliance already has 55 MLAs, as against the BJP-led NDA’s 24.

The JMM’s Ramdas Soren has won the seat thrice, in 2009, 2019 as well as 2024. There was an upset in 2014, when Bharatiya Janata Party’s Laxman Tudu wrested the seat from Ramdas Soren, beating him with a margin of over 6,000 votes. 

In 2024, Ramdas Soren won the seat, defeating Babulal Soren by over 22,000 votes. Ramdas Soren’s son, Somesh Chandra Soren is now banking heavily on his father’s legacy, as well as the welfare schemes of the Hemant Soren-led government. 

A day before the polling, JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya had expressed confidence of his party’s victory. “We are confident of victory of our candidate. People will vote in favour of the JMM candidate for various reasons. They have decided to pay tribute to Dishom Guru Shibu Soren and their popular leader Ramdas Soren through the election.”

In response, BJP working president Aditya Sahu claimed that people had decided to teach the JMM a lesson through the bypoll, for the lack of basic health and education facilities in the State, and rampant corruption.

(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)