Ranchi: With the Election Commission announcing the Ghatsila bypoll along with the Bihar elections, it is now clear that a member of late minister Ramdas Soren’s family will contest as JMM’s natural candidate without taking oath as minister beforehand. Speaking to Reporter Post, Somesh Soren, son of the late minister, expressed confidence that JMM would retain the Ghatsila Assembly seat with a comfortable margin.
He said his father’s work in development and his strong bond with the people had earned their trust in the past, and he was confident that public support would continue. On not being administered the oath as minister before the election, Somesh avoided direct comment, saying only that it was the party’s decision and he fully accepts it.
JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey clarified that the party never promised a ministerial oath before the polls and that such speculation originated in the media. He added that Ghatsila is a JMM stronghold and the party’s victory is certain.
Notably, the Hemant Soren government had previously sworn in family members of deceased legislators before by-elections. Hafizul Hasan was inducted as minister in 2020 following the death of his father, Haji Hussain Ansari, from the Madhupur seat, while former education minister Jagarnath Mahto’s wife, Baby Devi, was sworn in before contesting the Dumri bypoll. Similar expectations surrounded Ghatsila this time, but the party has chosen a different course.