NEW DELHI: BJP’s Purnima Sahu is leading by 12,963 votes over Congress’s Ajoy Kumar in the Jamshedpur East assembly constituency, a key seat in Jharkhand’s industrial hub. Known for housing Tata Steel, Jamshedpur East is a politically significant constituency forming part of the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat.
The seat, a BJP stronghold since 1990, saw a major upset in 2019 when independent candidate Saryu Roy defeated BJP’s Raghubar Das, a former Chief Minister, by a significant margin. Roy secured 73,945 votes, while Das managed 58,112, and Congress’s Gaurav Vallabh trailed with 18,976 votes. This loss ended the BJP’s three-decade dominance in the constituency.
In the 2024 elections, the BJP aims to reclaim its legacy with Purnima Sahu, a political newcomer and daughter-in-law of Raghubar Das. Sahu’s candidacy is central to the BJP’s strategy to restore its influence in Jamshedpur East.
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Sahu, 30, campaigned actively, engaging with local communities and highlighting the achievements of her father-in-law during his tenure as Chief Minister. Her grassroots outreach included interactions with residents in parks and marketplaces, emphasizing her vision for the constituency’s development.
The Congress has fielded Ajoy Kumar, a former Jamshedpur MP, in a bid to gain traction in the industrial region. Despite the Congress’s efforts, early trends indicate Sahu’s significant lead, signaling a possible BJP resurgence in the constituency.
Jamshedpur East, historically a BJP bastion, remains a focal point in Jharkhand’s political landscape. The 2024 elections are crucial for the BJP as it attempts to re-establish its dominance in a seat once synonymous with the Das family’s influence.
With counting still underway, all eyes are on Purnima Sahu to see if she can secure a victory and revive the BJP’s hold in Jamshedpur East.