Barhait Election Result: Hemant Soren Thrashes BJP To Clinch Victory

Barhait Assembly Constituency Results: All eyes are on Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is seeking to maintain his dominance in a seat he has held since 2014.

With its high number of assembly seats, Maharashtra drew significant attention during the assembly elections campaigning, but Jharkhand witnessed a more toughened, directly aggressive campaigning by the ruling and opposition sides. Incumbent Chief Minister Hemant Soren faced criticism from the BJP, which accused him of "shielding Bangladeshi infiltrators."  On the other hand, the JMM chief hit out at the saffron camp, alleging that the opposition party spent over Rs 500 crore on "malicious campaigns" against him.

Despite the challenges, Hemant Soren held onto his Barhait seat and even led the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha to a second consecutive win in the assembly polls.

The stakes were high for Hemant Soren, who faced a critical test to lead his party and coalition to victory. This marks the first election since Jharkhand’s formation in which Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) President Shibu Soren, known as “Guruji,” did not campaign due to age and health concerns. Hemant Soren, the torchbearer of his father’s legacy, serves as JMM’s working president and a key leader of the INDIA bloc in the state.

Battle In Barhait: Hemant Soren's Acid Test  

In the Barhait Assembly constituency, a JMM stronghold in Jharkhand's Santhal Pargana division, all eyes were on Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who sought to maintain his dominance in a seat he held since 2014. Barhait has been under JMM’s control since 1990, cementing its status as a party bastion.  

In the 2019 Assembly elections, Hemant Soren secured a decisive victory in Barhait securing 73,725 votes and defeating BJP's Simon Malto.  

Key Contenders In Barhait 

1. Hemant Soren (JMM): Soren, the incumbent Chief Minister, banked on his extensive track record and Barhait’s long-standing loyalty to JMM. For Hemant Soren, retaining Barhait was crucial to maintaining his stronghold in Santhal Pargana and cementing his leadership within JMM.   

2. Gamiliyem Hembrom (BJP): A political newcomer who entered the race in 2019 on an AJSU ticket, Hembrom has since switched to BJP. Known for his grassroots work, including organising local football tournaments, Hembrom hoped to tap into local sentiment to mount a stronger challenge despite his poor showing in 2019, where he lost his deposit. But this year, too, he failed to win.  

3. Dinesh Soren (NCP): Dinesh Soren added another layer of competition. While the NCP has minimal presence in the region, his candidacy was expected to have minimal impact.