25 Years, Seven CMs: Jharkhand's Past, Present CM Lineage Compete In 2024 Polls | In Pics

 

Shibu Soren is a veteran of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM who commands a lot of symbolic capital within the firmament of the political world of Jharkhand. Not being in active politics today either still, his mantle passes into the hands of his son, Hemant Soren, CM of Jharkhand, hoping for the second consecutive term and an achievement no combination so far has done that of living through the lifespan of Jharkhand state.

Then, Hemant Soren's constituency, Barhait, poses its own challenges. He is pitted against Gamaliel Hembrom, an educationist-turned-newcomer by the BJP, infusing fresh excitement in the contest.

As the first Chief Minister of Jharkhand after it was carved out of Bihar, Babulal Marandi has written his name in the state's political history. Today, as BJP state president, he faces the challenge of victory, the first after a 2019 defeat in elections.

Marandi is contesting from Dhanwar, Giridih, his home turf, where he had won earlier as the founder of his own party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. This election marks one full circle for Marandi when he hopes to take BJP back to the top in the state.

Shibu Soren's family dynamics add a twist: his daughter-in-law, Sita Soren, has gone against the family fold, contesting on a BJP ticket from Jamtara, an unexpected twist in the Soren family's clout.

The second Chief Minister of Jharkhand and BJP strongman Arjun Munda has receded into the background to make way for his wife to enter the electoral fray. Meera Munda is contesting from Potka with BJP support. The decision of Arjun Manda to stay out of election may have come as big surprise for many, however, Meera's run only consolidated the Mundas, yet again, in political scenario of Jharkhand.

Former chief minister Raghubar Das, the current Governor of Odisha, has hung on to his political holds in Jharkhand through his daughter-in-law Purnima Das Sahu, who is running from his former constituency of Jamshedpur East.

Jamshedpur East is still one of the bastions that can be said to be so closely associated with Das. This election will see Purnima's performance reflect his lingering influence and loyalty of the constituency to his legacy

With over four decades in the political landscape of Jharkhand, former CM Champai Soren has switched camps to the BJP, marking a significant reordering of alignments from his lifelong affiliation with JMM.

Champai's immediate challenger is Ganesh Mahali, a former BJP member now with JMM, making their contest a sort of metaphor for Jharkhand's changing political weather.

While his son, Babulal Soren, plunges into the fray in Ghatsila, adding another dimension to the Soren family's influence in the electoral contests of Jharkhand.

 

Madhu Koda, Jharkhand’s only independent Chief Minister, is represented in this election through his wife, Geeta Koda. Due to legal restrictions preventing his own re-entry, Madhu backs Geeta, who is contesting from Jagannathpur under a BJP banner.

Her campaign carries the weight of both Koda’s achievements and challenges, as she seeks to maintain their family’s political presence in Jharkhand’s electoral landscape.