Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana files nomination from Gandey assembly seat

• Bypoll for the Gandey assembly seat is slated for May 20, coinciding with the parliamentary elections in the state
• The vacancy in the Gandey seat emerged after the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad, necessitating the bypoll
• Accompanied by Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren and brother-in-law Basant Soren, Kalpana submitted her nomination papers, marking her formal entry into politics

Jailed former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana, took a significant step in the political arena by filing her nomination for the Gandey assembly seat on Monday. Representing the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Kalpana's candidacy adds a new dimension to the upcoming bypoll scheduled for May 20, coinciding with the parliamentary elections in the state. The Gandey assembly seat, situated in Giridih district, became vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad, setting the stage for a closely watched electoral contest.

Accompanied by Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren and brother-in-law Basant Soren, among others, Kalpana submitted her nomination papers, marking a significant milestone in her political journey. Despite being a homemaker with qualifications in MTech and MBA, Kalpana has emerged as a formidable candidate, with her education spanning from Baripada in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district to institutions in Bhubaneswar, where she earned her engineering and MBA degrees. Her entry into politics was marked by a fervent declaration at the JMM's 51st foundation day celebration in Giridih district on March 4, where she denounced alleged conspiracies against her husband's government since 2019 and vowed that Jharkhand would respond resolutely to those responsible for his incarceration by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31, in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.