Ghatshila, one of the prominent Assembly seats of East Singhbhum district, has emerged as the hot seat of Kolhan. The ST reserved seat is heading to witness a triangular fight this time.
Sitting legislature from Ghatshila Ramdas Soren is facing tough contest from BJP candidate laxman Tudu and Congress candidate and young gun Cinderella Balmuchu. According to locals, strong anti-incumbency factor is prevailing in the region with sitting MlAs facing tough time. A total of 11 candidates are in fray, however the real fight is among the three.
Moreover, politically, the region has been dominated by the Congress, supported by the tribals. However, the separation of Congress Party and JMM may give an edge to BJP that has strong hold among the rural voters. In 2014 lok Sabha election too, the saffron party had a lead from Ghatshila Assembly area.
Cinderella Balmuchu, who is daughter of senior Congress leader and former legislature of Ghatshila Pradeep Balmuchu, is listing out developmental works that she is going to take up in Ghatshila constituency if she is elected. She is targeting the young voters. A doctor by profession is trying to woo voters to bring change in the region.
On the other hand, buoyed by the Modi wave the BJP candidate Tudu is totally depended on voter’s sentiment voicing for a change that is mostly prevalent in youth and employees.
“The campaign has intensified here. All the candidates are putting their best foot forward to woo the voters. With assurances of development and progress the candidates are working hard to win the support of the voters. Though it is difficult to judge the pulse of the voters but it is expected that they are in mood for a change,” said Jay Kishore political activist.
He said that Ramdas Soren had made promises of development but during his tenure he has failed to take any step to fulfill the promises made.
Reserved for the Scheduled Tribes, the assembly constituency of Ghatshila is occupied by JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha). Ramdas Soren won the assembly elections of 2009. He defeated his nearest rival Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu of Congress.
In 2005 Assembly elections Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu bagged 39.95 per cent votes to defeat archrival Ramdas Soren of JMM who bagged 27 per cent votes. In 2000 polls too, Balmuchu bagged 49.31 per cent votes to defeat Baiju Murmu of BJP. Besra in 1990 had won the seat as an independent candidate. However, in 2009 election Ramdas Soren bagged 38283 and Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu bagged 37091 votes only.
Sources said that the BJP is working hard on booth management and connecting with the traditional voters.