Ranchi:
In the current political equations of Jharkhand, ‘Soren family’ is the most influential family of the state. The political fate of four members of this family, Hemant Soren, Kalpana Soren, Sita Soren and Basant Soren, is at stake in the second phase of voting to be held in Jharkhand on November 20.
This is the first election after Jharkhand became a separate state, when Jharkhand Mukti Morcha president Shibu Soren alias Guruji, head of the Soren family, completely stayed away from the election campaign. His pictures were prominently displayed on the posters and banners of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, but due to his increasing age and poor health, he remained away from election meetings.
Now the biggest flag bearer of Shibu Soren’s legacy is Hemant Soren, who is the Chief Minister of the state as well as the working president of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. He is also the natural leader of the ‘India’ block in the state. In such a situation, the primary responsibility for the victory or defeat of the ruling coalition will be on him. Hemant Soren himself is contesting from Barhet seat of Santhal Pargana division. From this seat he had reached Jharkhand Assembly in 2014 and 2019.
Interesting contest on Barhet seat
Barhait seat is considered an impregnable fort of JMM. Since 1990, the flag of JMM’s victory has been flying continuously on this seat. Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Gamaliel Hembram to challenge him on this seat. Hembram has been in politics only five years ago. In the year 2019, he left his job as a contract teacher in a government school and joined politics and had contested the last election from Barhet seat on the ticket of AJSU Party. Then he got only 2573 votes and he stood fourth. Gamaliel is known for organizing big football tournaments in the area. It is interesting to see how this young candidate of BJP is able to score against the most powerful personality of the state on the election pitch.
Basant Soren, youngest son of Shibu Soren and brother of Hemant Soren, is JMM’s candidate from Dumka seat. Dumka is the sub-capital of Jharkhand and the largest city of Santhal Pargana division. In this respect, it is considered a very prestigious seat. Dumka is the area which gave Shibu Soren the biggest political identity. From here he has been MLA and MP several times. Basant Soren is currently the sitting MLA here. Sunil Soren of BJP is giving him a tough challenge. Sunil Soren has been an MP from Dumka and has a strong identity in the area. In the year 2019, he had defeated Shibu Soren here and because of this he is seen as a game changer player of BJP in Santhal Pargana. In the year 2005, he had defeated Shibu Soren’s elder son Durga Soren (now deceased) from Jama Assembly seat and established himself politically here.
Kalpana Soren in election battle from Gandeya seat
CM Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren is contesting from Gandey seat of Giridih district. She has been the biggest and popular star campaigner of JMM after Hemant Soren in this election. She came into politics in January this year after Hemant Soren went to jail and reached the Assembly by winning the by-election on this seat in June. On this seat, BJP has fielded Muniya Devi against Kalpana Soren. Muniya Devi has been the District Council President of Giridih district. She comes from OBC community and her maternal house is also Gandeya. Muniya Devi, who is challenging Kalpana Soren, has sweated a lot in the campaign.
On Jamtara seat, BJP has fielded Hemant Soren’s sister-in-law Sita Soren. She is the first and only member of the Soren family, who has separated from Shibu Soren’s party Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and shifted her political base to some other party. She had joined BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections, accusing the Soren family of neglect and step-motherly treatment. BJP had fielded him from Dumka seat in the Lok Sabha elections, but he had to face defeat in a very close contest. Sita Soren has been MLA from Jama seat thrice on JMM ticket and this time she is contesting from a non-tribal seat for the first time. His competition is against Dr. Irfan Ansari of Congress, who is a minister in Hemant Soren’s government. There is a tough competition between the two.
