Arjun Munda Trails in Jharkhand's Khunti Seat

Union Tribal Affairs and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda is trailing by about 97,345 votes in the Khunti (ST) seat against Congress's Kalicharan Munda. A former three-time Jharkhand chief minister, Arjun Munda has a long political history, including a narrow 2019 victory and a tenure as BJP’s national general secretary.

Union Tribal Affairs and Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda is currently trailing by approximately 97,345 votes in Jharkhand's prestigious Khunti (ST) seat, according to the Election Commission. His closest rival, Congress candidate Kalicharan Munda, is leading.

Arjun Munda, who has served three terms as Jharkhand's chief minister, had previously defeated Kalicharan Munda by a slim margin of just 1,445 votes in the 2019 elections. The 56-year-old tribal leader also secured a Lok Sabha seat in a by-election from Jamshedpur and has held the position of BJP’s national general secretary.

Munda's political career began with the JMM during the statehood struggle before he moved to the BJP. He became Jharkhand's chief minister for the first time in March 2003, replacing Babulal Marandi amid internal party dissent. He was first elected as an MLA in 1995 in undivided Bihar and won three subsequent terms from Kharsawan, although he lost the seat in 2014.