Jharkhand polls: Close to 50% MLAs are fresh faces

Close to 50% of the newly elected MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly this time are freshers.

Among the members, 37 MLAs have become legislators for the first time with Hemant Soren, the younger son of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren leading the pack.

Hemant is a Rajya Sabha member.

Hemant's sister-in-law and widow of Durga Soren, Sita Soren is another new JMM MLA.

Sita Soren, the daughter-in-law of Shibu Soren also is a first time entrant and so is Geeta Koda, wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda.

Banna Gupta of the Congress, who defeated Saryu Rai of the BJP, considered the Chanakya of Jharkhand BJP unit in the Jamshedpur West seat is also a newcomer to the assembly.

Ramdas Soren of the JMM, a green horn in politics, who won the Ghatsila seat defeating Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu is a first timer.

Another newcomer Akuil Akhatar of the JMM defeated senior Congress leader and Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly Alamgir Alam in the elections.