Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren during the nomination of Somesh Chandra Soren for the Ghatsila Assembly seat by-election in Ghatsila on October 17, 2025. Photo: X/@mlkhattar via ANI
Ghatsila Assembly constituency in Jharkhand’s East Singhbhum district will witness a three-way contest in the bypoll next month as JLKM led by MLA Jairam Kumar Mahato has announced its candidate for the constituency while BJP and ruling JMM have fielded their candidates.
The Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) once again trusted Ramdas Murma, who finished third in the 2024 assembly polls from the seat, getting only 8092 votes, as its candidate.
The BJP-led NDA has nominated Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren, while Somesh Soren, son of late minister Ramdas Soren, is in the fray as the JMM candidate.
After the death of sitting MLA and Jharkhand education minister Ramdas Soren in August, bypoll to Ghatsila seat had to be conducted on November 11.
Mr Murmu told PTI that he would submit the nomination papers on October 21 in the presence of party founder president Mr Mahato, who is popularly known as Tiger Mahato.
The JLKM was said to have played booty for the national alliance, including the NDA in several seats, notably Bokaro, Ramgarh, Gomia, Dhanbad and Giridih, in the 2024 assembly polls.
On social media platform X, Mr Mahato said the Central Parliamentary Board and Central Election Committee of the JLKM had approved Mr Murma’s name for the Ghatsila poll.
In an indirect reference to the JMM and BJP nominees, Mr. Murmu said it was unfortunate that there were outsiders in the fray in the Ghatsila seat.
While NDA candidate Babulal Soren hailed from Seraikela-Kharswan district, JMM’s Somesh Soren hails from Jamshedpur in East Singhbhum district.
Mr Murmu, a native of Ghatsila sub-division, said the assembly constituency “needs a local person who only feels the pulse of the people and intends to solve their problems”.
Mr. Murmu, who is a post-graduate in physics and also holds a B.Ed degree, said he runs a coaching center in Ghatsila.
Published – 19 Oct 2025 19:44 IST
