Sanjay Kumar Pandey
Ranchi EW News: The political hub of Jharkhand, continues to witness a fierce competition between the Congress and BJP for the Lok Sabha seat. Despite being a significant constituency, it has eluded a clear victor in recent elections. With six assembly segments falling under Ranchi parliamentary constituency, including Ichagarh, Silli, Khijri, Ranchi, Hatia, and Kanke, the dynamics are complex. Notably, Kanke is reserved for Scheduled Castes and Khijri for Scheduled Tribes.
The political landscape of Ranchi underwent a transformation since the first general elections. Initially divided into three Lok Sabha constituencies, it has now consolidated into one. While the Indian National Congress has historically dominated Ranchi, the BJP has made strides in recent elections, challenging Congress’s supremacy.
In 2014, during the Modi wave, BJP secured victory in the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat, with Ramtahal Choudhary clinching 42.7% of the votes. However, in 2019, BJP fielded Sanjay Seth instead of Choudhary, leading to a victory for the BJP once again. The emergence of independent candidate Ramtahal Choudhary posed a challenge, but BJP prevailed. In the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ranchi anticipates an intriguing contest. BJP’s Sanjay Seth and India Alliance’s candidate are set for a showdown. While alliances like JMM, JVM, and RJD are yet to finalize their candidates, Congress remains a significant contender in Ranchi. Reflecting on the past, Congress’s Subodh Kant Sahay secured victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Ranchi’s political landscape.
