Former Jharkhand CM's High-Stakes Election Bid

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Champai Soren, alongside AJSU party chief Sudesh Mahto, filed their nominations for the upcoming state assembly elections. Soren, now a BJP candidate citing past insults from JMM leaders, predicts a strong BJP wave. The polls are split into two phases in November.

Champai Soren, former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has filed his nomination as a BJP candidate from Saraikela for the forthcoming state assembly elections. Joining the party on August 30 due to alleged disrespect from JMM leaders, Soren expressed confidence in a pro-BJP sentiment sweeping the state.

In his declaration, Soren criticized the current Jharkhand government, accusing it of failing to curb Bangladeshi infiltration and noting a decline in the tribal population in Santhal Pargana. Opposition is also gearing up, with JMM's Ganesh Mahli entering the fray in Saraikela after leaving BJP.

Meanwhile, AJSU party chief Sudesh Mahto, backed by Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has filed from Silli. With the BJP-led NDA alliance, AJSU and BJP finalized their seat-sharing. The elections, staged over two phases on November 13 and 20, will decide the political fate of Jharkhand's 81 seats.

(With inputs from agencies.)