Dumka Lok Sabha election 2024: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominated its Shikaripada legislator Nalin Soren from the Dumka Lok Sabha seat on Thursday (April 4), making it clear that jailed former chief minister Hemant Soren will not contest from the constituency as speculated earlier.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already nominated Sita Soren, former JMM MLA and sister-in-law of Hemant Soren, from the Dumka constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST). Notably, the saffron party had on March 2 renominated sitting MP Sunil Soren from Dumka but later withdrew his candidature in order to field Sita Soren from the seat.
Sunil Soren had defeated JMM president Shibu Soren in the 2019 polls by a margin of around 47,590 votes.
Who is BJP candidate Sita Soren?
Sita Soren, a three-term MLA and elder daughter-in-law of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, joined the BJP last month. She alleged that she was neglected by the JMM and was in isolation after the death of her husband Durga Soren in 2009.
Dumka will go to the polls on June 1 (Saturday).
I.N.D.I.A bloc seat-sharing agreement
As per the I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders, an initial seat-sharing agreement has been finalised for all the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. According to the initial understanding, the Congress would contest from seven seats and the JMM from five. The RJD and CPI (ML) Liberation would field candidates in one seat each.
The BJP on Sunday (March 24) announced the names of three candidates in Jharkhand, including former JMM MLA and sister-in-law of former chief minister Hemant Soren from Dumka (ST) constituency. The party on March 2 had announced that sitting MP Sunil Soren, who had defeated JMM president Shibu Soren in the 2019 polls by a margin of 47,590 votes, will seek re-election from Dumka.
In a blow to the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, three-term MLA and elder daughter-in-law of party patriarch Shibu Soren, Sita on March 20 had joined the BJP in New Delhi citing isolation and neglect by JMM since the death of her husband Durga Soren in 2009.
Jharkhand's parliamentary constituencies
There are 14 parliamentary constituencies in Jharkhand and as per the seat-sharing arrangement between the BJP and AJSU Party, Giridih seat has been left for the AJSU Party. At present, Giridih seat is represented by AJSU Party's Chandra Prakash Chaudhary.
JMM candidate Nalin Soren
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which leads the ruling coalition in the state, on Thursday announced the first list of the two candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. The party has fielded Nalin Soren from Dumka constituency.
According to the broad seat-sharing formula, Congress is expected to contest 7 of 14 seats in Jharkhand. JMM is expected to contest five and RJD and CPI (ML) one seat each. RJD is keen to contest at least two seats.
When will people vote in Jharkhand?
Elections will be held in Jharkhand in four phases- May 13, 20, 25, and June 1.
2019 poll results
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand with the BJP winning 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress got one seat each.
2024 Lok Sabha elections
In the Lok Sabha election 2019, the BJP won 11 seats with a 51.9 per cent vote share, while Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and ASJU won one seat each. The elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held from April 19 to June 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4 (Tuesday).
