NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of 66 candidates for the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024. The party is strategically placing top leaders in key constituencies, aiming to unseat the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government.
The candidate list includes notable figures such as former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, who will contest from Saraikella, and state BJP president Babulal Marandi, who will represent Dhanwar.
In a move aimed at directly challenging the ruling party, the BJP has also fielded Sita Soren, sister-in-law of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, from Jamtara. Other prominent names on the BJP’s list include Geeta Koda and former Union minister Sudarshan Bhagat.
The BJP will contest 68 out of 81 assembly seats in the state, leaving the remaining 13 seats for its allies.
READ ALSO: Netanyahu confirms Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar’s death
Jharkhand Assembly Election Dates 2024
The Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 will be held in two phases. The first phase of voting is scheduled for November 13, 2024, and the second phase will take place on November 20, 2024. The counting of votes will be conducted on November 23, 2024, and the results will be eagerly awaited by all political parties.
The first phase will cover 43 constituencies, including key areas such as Kodarma, Hazaribagh, Ranchi, and Jamshedpur. A significant portion of this phase includes constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Scheduled Castes (SC), such as Ghatsila, Potka, Simaria, and Latehar.
The second phase will include the remaining constituencies, covering districts such as Garhwa, Jamshedpur West, and Lohardaga.
Key Candidates in the BJP’s List
By fielding well-known leaders like Champai Soren and Babulal Marandi, the BJP is banking on the experience and influence of these political veterans to make inroads in the state. Geeta Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, and Sudarshan Bhagat, a former Union minister, are expected to strengthen the BJP’s reach in both tribal and non-tribal areas.
READ ALSO: Death toll rises to 37 in Bihar’s hooch tragedy
The inclusion of Sita Soren in the BJP’s candidate list is a bold move, as she will contest from Jamtara, traditionally seen as a JMM stronghold.
Political Landscape and 2019 Election Recap
In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly elections, the JMM-Congress alliance won 47 seats, securing a majority in the 74-member assembly. The BJP, on the other hand, won 25 seats.
The ruling JMM alliance, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, currently holds 44 seats. However, with the upcoming elections, the BJP is hoping to make a comeback and reclaim political ground in the state.
The BJP election strategy focuses on key issues like development, governance, tribal welfare, and unemployment. The party is positioning itself as the agent of change, while the JMM will defend its governance track record over the last five years.
As the Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024 draw closer, political campaigns are set to intensify. The BJP’s candidate list signals its intent to challenge the status quo, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown in November.