PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Nov 11: The Ghatshila Assembly by-election registered a strong 73.88% voter turnout by 5 pm, signalling high public participation in a closely watched contest.
Polling remained peaceful across all booths, with security forces maintaining tight vigilance and Election Commission teams conducting active monitoring through flying squads, webcasting, and micro-observers.
According to the District Election Officer’s media cell, voting picked up sharply after noon as long queues were seen at several tribal-dominated booths.
Special arrangements — including separate queues for senior citizens, drinking water, shade, and women-managed booths — ensured smooth polling.
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Champai Soren Files Complaint
Former Chief Minister Champai Soren lodged a formal complaint with the Election Commission, accusing minister Deepak Birua and several political leaders of violating the Model Code of Conduct.
Soren alleged that attempts were made to influence voters and misuse official machinery.
His party submitted video and local reports to support the charges and demanded immediate corrective action.
High-Stakes Contest
The by-election, necessitated by a vacancy earlier this year, due to death of Ramdas Soren, is crucial for both the ruling alliance and the Opposition.
The seat holds decisive influence in the Kolhan region, where issues such as tribal land protection, unemployment, welfare schemes, and infrastructure gaps have dominated the campaign narrative.
Both leading candidates – Somesh Soren of JMM and Babulal Soren of BJP – have focused their outreach on remote villages, with parties deploying senior leaders and ground teams to mobilise turnout.
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Next Steps
EVMs are being sealed and being shifted to the strong room under multi-layer security.
Counting will take place under CCTV surveillance as per the Election Commission’s schedule.
The result, on November 14, is likely to shape the political mood ahead of the next legislative polls.
