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Kalpana Soren, the wife of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has stepped into the political arena by announcing her candidacy for the upcoming bypoll from the Gandey assembly seat. The announcement was made by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party, indicating a notable entry into the electoral fray.
The Gandey assembly constituency, situated in Giridih district, saw its seat vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad, who secured an unopposed victory to the Rajya Sabha on March 14.
Contesting against Kalpana Soren, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Dilip Kumar Verma for the upcoming by-election scheduled for May 20, coinciding with parliamentary elections in the state.
Kalpana Soren’s political foray comes amidst the backdrop of a strategic move by the ruling alliance, with JMM leading the charge. The alliance, comprising 47 MLAs in the 81-member assembly, also includes the BJP with 26 MLAs and the AJSU Party with three. Additionally, the NCP and CPI (ML) each hold one seat, along with two Independents and a nominated member. Within the ruling alliance, the JMM commands 29 MLAs, followed by the Congress with 17 and the RJD with one legislator.
Kalpana Soren’s emergence into the political spotlight gained momentum during the 51st foundation day celebrations of the JMM in Giridih district on March 4. Displaying assertiveness, she highlighted alleged conspiracies against the Hemant Soren-led coalition government since its inception in 2019.
Armed with an educational background comprising an MTech and MBA, Kalpana Soren became vocal against the BJP following her husband’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.
Furthermore, the JMM, a pivotal member of the INDIA bloc in Jharkhand, announced Sameer Mohanty as its candidate for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat, adding another dimension to the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections.
