The by-election for the 45-Ghatshila (ST) Assembly seat in East Singhbhum district is witnessing a strong performance by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Candidate Somesh Chandra Soren has widened his lead after six rounds of vote counting, accumulating 27,467 votes. He is ahead by 6,217 votes, with the BJP’s Babulal Soren in second place having secured 21,250 votes. Other contenders are substantially trailing. The Jharkhand Democratic Revolutionary Front candidate, Ramdas Murmu, has received 6,061 votes. Independent candidates are also struggling to gain traction, with vote counts including Dr. Shrilal Kisku (431), Manas Ram Hansda (394), Vikas Hembram (264), and Manoj Kumar Singh (137). The Bharat Adivasi Party’s Panchanan Soren has garnered 239 votes, and Parvati Hansda from the People’s Party of India (Democratic) has 106 votes. A considerable number of independent candidates have received fewer than 100 votes. The NOTA option has been selected by 827 voters.
