Jharkhand: Eight Critical Seats To Watch As Counting Gets Underway

Here is the list of eight critical seats to watch out for in Jharkhand assembly election results

Jamtara

In Jamtara, BJP’s Sita Soren, a three-time MLA and a Soren family member faces Congress’s Irfan Ansari, one of the prominent Muslim faces of the INDI Alliance.

The contest gained traction after Ansari’s controversial remark against Soren, which the BJP framed as an insult to both tribal self-respect and women. 

Dhanwar

Dhanwar sees BJP’s state president and chief ministerial hopeful Babu Lal Marandi vying for re-election. For Marandi, a lot is at stake since BJP is beieved to have sidelined many senior leaders including former chief minister Raghubar Das to push him at the forefront.

Additionally, the seat is also important for INDI Alliance since it could not strike a deal due to which both JMM and CPI(ML)L are contesting from here. 

Barhait

Barhait pits Chief Minister Hemant Soren against BJP’s Gamliel Hembram in a contest that tests the JMM’s hold over its stronghold in Santhal Pargana.

Soren’s governance and welfare programs face scrutiny amid allegations of corruption, while the BJP’s campaign focuses on tribal identity and Hembram’s return to Sanatan values.

Jharia

In Jharia, Congress’s Purnima Singh and BJP’s Ragini Singh continue a deeply personal political rivalry rooted in the Singh family’s coal-linked legacy. Both are women faces of Dhanbad’s Singh mansion - an epicenter of coal business in Jharkhand for decades.

Purnima’s husband Niraj Singh was allegedly shot dead by Ragini’s husband Sanjiv Singh.

Saraikela

In Saraikela, JMM-turncoat and BJP leader Champai Soren is up against JMM’s Ganesh Mahali. In his last leg of political career, Soren was unceremoniously asked to leave chief minister position by Hemant Soren due to which he turned to BJP.

However, even the BJP cadre base was not initially supportive of the move since Champai’s influence is on decline. Inside the party, there is also a discomfort around Champai demanding the chief minister position if everything goes well.

Silli

In Silli, Sudesh Mahto, firebrand leader of All Jharkhand Students Union Party is contesting. It is a battle for his legacy since he has been started to be considered a sleeping tiger while Jairam Mahato emerges as the Mahato community’s face.

Sudesh Mahto’s win or loss margin will be seen in the context of Jairam’s rise and also shape the party's trajectory.

Dumri

Dumri is one seat which is keeping everyone hooked to since Jairam Mahato is contesting from here. Mahato is considered as the next big thing in Jharkhand politics and exit polls suggest that he may emerge as kingmaker. He may make a big dent in the OBC vote-bank.

A splendid performance will help him cement his legacy since there have been a lot of exits from his party due to his perceived aggressive nature.

Jamshedpur West

After beating former chief minister Raghubar Das on Jamshedpur East seat, Saryu Roy is back wrestling his old rival Banna Gupta. This time he is contesting from JD(U) ticket due to which victory becomes more essential for him.

Roy’s victory will give him a decisive position in JD(U) as he is very close friend of Nitish Kumar.