Ranchi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced its first list of 66 candidates for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections. The party, which plans to contest 68 of the total 81 seats in the assembly, has revealed several key names for the upcoming polls. The list includes several prominent figures, including Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi, who will contest from Dhanwar.
Among the candidates fielded by the BJP are notable defectors from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), including Sita Soren, who will be contesting from Jamtara, and former Chief Minister Champai Soren, who will run for the Saraikella constituency. The inclusion of these JMM turncoats highlights the BJP’s strategic moves ahead of the elections, aiming to consolidate its position against the ruling JMM alliance.
In addition to these candidates, the BJP has also nominated Geeta Balmuchu from Chaibasa, and Geeta Koda, wife of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, to contest from Jagannathpur. Another significant name is Meera Munda, who will represent the BJP in Potka. Meera is the wife of Union Minister Arjun Munda, adding to the list of candidates with strong political family backgrounds.
The BJP’s first list showcases a mix of experienced politicians and new faces, many of whom belong to politically influential families, reflecting the party’s strategy to build on established networks while bringing in fresh talent. With Babulal Marandi leading the charge, the party is positioning itself to take on the ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in what is expected to be a closely contested election.
The Jharkhand Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20, according to the Election Commission. The voting will be conducted across the state for the 81-member assembly, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23. The two-phase polling schedule is designed to ensure smooth conduct of elections in the state, which has a history of political volatility.
The BJP’s announcement of its candidates comes just a day after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) finalized its seat-sharing arrangement. According to the NDA’s formula, the BJP will contest 68 seats, while its coalition partners, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), will contest 10 seats. The Janata Dal (United) will field candidates in two seats, while the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest just one seat.
This seat-sharing agreement reflects the NDA’s calculated approach to the elections, ensuring that its allies have a share in the electoral contest while allowing the BJP to lead the charge in the majority of seats. The BJP, which had lost power in Jharkhand to the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in the 2019 elections, is now seeking to make a comeback by leveraging the organizational strength of its allies and fielding a strong lineup of candidates.
Babulal Marandi, the BJP’s face in Jharkhand and a former chief minister, is expected to play a pivotal role in the party’s campaign. Marandi, who was also the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand when the state was formed in 2000, has significant influence in the state’s political landscape. His return to the BJP after a brief stint with his own party, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), has strengthened the BJP’s prospects in the upcoming polls.
With the inclusion of JMM defectors like Sita Soren and Champai Soren, the BJP aims to erode the JMM’s support base in key constituencies. Both Sita and Champai are influential leaders in their respective regions, and their presence on the BJP ticket is expected to shake up the electoral dynamics in Jamtara and Saraikella.
The Jharkhand elections are being closely watched as they are seen as a test of the BJP’s ability to reclaim a state that was once under its control. With the polls just weeks away, the political atmosphere in Jharkhand is heating up, and the BJP’s candidate list is only the first step in what promises to be an intense campaign battle in the coming weeks.
