The political atmosphere in Jharkhandโs Ghatsila Assembly constituency heated up on Friday as Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominee Somesh Soren and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Babulal Soren filed their nomination papers before the Returning Officer, each accompanied by a show of tremendous party strength.
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The day turned into a high-voltage political spectacle, with Chief Minister Hemant Soren personally standing beside Somesh as he submitted his nomination, signalling the ruling allianceโs full backing for the young JMM candidate.
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In a parallel show of power, former Chief Ministers Champai Soren and Babulal Marandi, along with AJSU Party president Sudesh Mahto, joined Babulal Soren as he filed his papers โ reflecting the NDAโs united front ahead of the November 11 bypoll.
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Before arriving in Ghatsila, Babulal Soren performed traditional rituals at Jahersthan in Jilinggoda, his ancestral village in Seraikela-Kharsawan district. Dressed in ethnic attire, he offered prayers and meditated briefly, seeking divine blessings for his electoral campaign.
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The Ghatsila constituency has long witnessed a shifting political landscape. Once a Congress stronghold in 2005, it was won by the JMM in 2009 and later captured by the BJP in 2014.
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The JMM later maintained its hold for two consecutive terms. In the 2024 Assembly elections, the late Minister Ramdas Soren of JMM narrowly defeated Babulal Soren, polling 98,356 votes to Babulalโs 75,910.
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The upcoming bypoll, necessitated by Ramdas Sorenโs untimely death, has now shaped into a generational battle between two political heirs โ Somesh Soren, son of Ramdas Soren, representing the JMM, and Babulal Soren, son of former Chief Minister Champai Soren, contesting on a BJP ticket.
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Both candidates share deep political roots and personal ties, having grown up in families entrenched in Jharkhandโs political fabric. While Somesh seeks to uphold his fatherโs legacy within the JMM, Babulal is charting his path under his fatherโs guidance, now a key BJP leader after parting ways with the JMM.
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Political observers view this bypoll as a test of strength between the ruling Grand Alliance and the NDA, with both sides treating it as a matter of prestige.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren has exuded confidence in Someshโs prospects, notably fielding him without granting ministerial status โ a departure from previous strategies in by-elections at Madhupur and Dumri.
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On the other hand, Champai Soren is leaving no stone unturned to reclaim the seat for the BJP, capitalising on his familiarity with the regionโs political pulse.
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Both father-son duos have intensified their outreach, visiting villages, meeting voters, and consolidating grassroots support. The BJP has stationed senior leaders in Ghatsila to oversee campaign operations, reflecting the partyโs intent to regain lost ground in the Kolhan region.
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Also read:ย JMM seeks 12 seats in upcoming Bihar Assembly polls
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