Gandey Election Results: Hemant Soren’s wife, Kalpana Soren of (JMM) vs Muniya Devi (BJP)

In the Gandey assembly election, Kalpana Soren, wife of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is contesting for the JMM against BJP’s Muniya Devi. Kalpana secured a win in a by-election earlier in 2024, garnering 109,827 votes to defeat BJP’s Dilip Verma. Her candidacy is considered crucial for the ruling alliance in the state, as the outcome will impact the JMM’s influence in the region.

A homemaker by profession, Kalpana entered politics after her husband Hemant Soren was arrested in January 2024 by the Enforcement Directorate in a land case.

Kalpana’s opponent, Muniya Devi, is a relatively unknown figure in mainstream politics, though she has experience at the grassroots level. A member of the Kushwaha community, Devi served as a District Council member for the eastern part of Jamua in 2011 and later became president of the Council. This election marks her first attempt at contesting for an Assembly seat. Devi joined the BJP in 2023, in a ceremony attended by party president J.P. Nadda in Giridih.


Other major names and political parties in the Jharkhand district poll include BSP's Md Kausar Azad, AVP's Md. Arif Uddin, Arjun Baitha from ASP(KR), Kameshwar Prasad Saw from LAP, and RSD's Mohammad Kudus Ansari.

Gandey Voting Details

The Jharkhand Assembly elections concluded with a robust voter turnout of 68.01% statewide, with Gandey itself witnessing an impressive 73.36% participation. Voting took place between 7 am and 6 pm, marking the successful completion of the electoral process across the state.

Gandey 2019 Assembly Elections

In the 2019 assembly elections, Dr. Sarfaraz Ahmad of the JMM won the Gandey constituency with 65,023 votes, defeating BJP’s Jai Prakash Verma, who secured 56,168 votes. This victory for the JMM marked another successful run in a constituency that has been a stronghold for the party.

Gandey 2014 Assembly Elections

In 2014, BJP’s Jai Prakash Verma won the Gandey Assembly seat, garnering 48,838 votes. He defeated JMM’s Salakhan Soren, who received 38,559 votes. This election saw a competitive race between the two major parties, with the BJP securing a narrow win.

Gandey Constituency Profile

The Gandey constituency has a storied political history, with the JMM winning the seat six times since 1977. The BJP and Congress have each secured the seat twice, while the Janata Party won it once. The constituency has a significant Muslim and Adivasi population, which together make up 40% of the electorate.

In January 2024, Sarfaraz Ahmad, the sitting MLA for Gandey from JMM, vacated the seat to allow Kalpana Soren a safe debut. As a reward for his loyalty, Sarfaraz was nominated for a Rajya Sabha seat. This move demonstrates the JMM's strategy to strengthen its political position in the region while maintaining loyalty within the party.