Jharkhand Political Showdown: BJP vs. JMM as Soren Files Nomination

Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren has filed his nomination from Saraikella, sparking a BJP-Congress face-off. Amidst BJP's national surge, JMM releases more candidates, including CM Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren. BJP announces 66 candidates, partnering with AJSU, JD-U, and LJP for upcoming polls.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Friday submitted his nomination as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate contesting from Saraikella. Soren asserted that the Congress and its allies are irrelevant in Jharkhand, emphasizing that a BJP wave is sweeping the nation, and alliances with Congress hold no influence.

In a strategic move, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) rolled out another list of candidates for two seats for the approaching Assembly elections that same day. The party has nominated Ganesh Mehli from the Saraikela seat, positioning him against Champai Soren, and Ramsurya Munda from Khunti.

A day earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is also in the fray for the upcoming assembly polls, criticized Assam CM and BJP co-in-charge of Jharkhand elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma, labeling him a 'Pravaasi' CM who will vanish post-elections. CM Hemant Soren is contesting from the Barhait Assembly constituency.

Amidst these developments, on Thursday, Kalpana Soren, a prominent JMM leader and spouse of CM Hemant Soren, lodged her candidacy from the Gandey Assembly constituency. Kalpana Soren is the current representative for Gandey. The JMM had disclosed its first set of 35 candidates on October 23.

The political landscape further heated up on Saturday as the BJP rolled out its inaugural list of 66 candidates for the Jharkhand assembly elections. Simultaneously, the ruling JMM-led coalition finalized their seat-sharing arrangement. The BJP is contesting in alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), competing for 68 seats, with AJSU on 10, JD-U on two, and LJP on one.

The elections will span 81 seats across the Jharkhand Assembly, conducted in two phases on November 13 and November 20. (Source: ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)