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Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Nov 14 (IANS) The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has registered a landslide victory in the Ghatsila assembly by-election, with party candidate Somesh Chandra Soren defeating BJP candidate Babulal Soren by an impressive margin of 38,524 votes.
Somesh Soren maintained a strong lead from the first round and the gap kept increasing as the count progressed.
He got 1,04,794 votes, while the BJP candidate got 66,270 votes. The deposits of all the other 11 candidates were forfeited.
The by-election had become necessary due to the sudden demise of sitting JMM MLA Ramdas Soren. The party chose his father’s son Somesh Chandra Soren to carry forward his political legacy.
BJP fielded Babulal Soren, son of former Chief Minister Champai Soren. The contest was widely seen as a symbolic face-off between Hemant Soren and Champai Soren, both of whom started their political journey in JMM.
After Hemant Soren stepped down as chief minister last year, Champai Soren left JMM and joined the BJP, creating an intense political conflict.
In the campaign, JMM sought votes on the basis of the legacy of late Ramdas Soren and the performance of Hemant Soren government.
Meanwhile, the BJP relied on Champai Soren’s influence and the party’s organizational network.
Reacting to the results, JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that “the land of Jharkhand has once again rejected the BJP.”
He said that although JMM has given prominence to Champai Soren, it is clear from the public’s decision that he has no political status outside the party.
A total of 13 candidates contested the by-election, although the fight largely pitted JMM against the BJP.
Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) candidate Ramdas Murmu attempted to make inroads but secured only 11,542 votes.
Voting for this seat was held on November 11, in which 73.88 percent voting took place.
–IANS
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