Gumla Nagar Parishad Elections: Two Councillors Vie for Fourth Term in Office

Gumla: After scoring hat-tricks since the start of the Gumla Nagar Parishad elections in 2008, two former ward councillors here are fighting the urban body polls for the fourth consecutive term in their respective wards.

Krishna Kumar Mishra of ward 2 and Hemlata Devi of ward 17 were councillors for the last three consecutive five-year terms in the GNP, which has a total of 22 wards.


This time, Mishra is in a straight contest against Ashok Kumar Sahu, while during the last election, there were six candidates, all either general or OBC communities, in this ward, which has over 40% of tribal voters. He received 547 votes against his nearest rival, Nandkishor Singh, who got only 180 votes. Ward 2 has 2,154 voters, with over 800 tribal voters this time.

Talking to TOI about his priorities this time, Mishra said, “Setting up a ward clinic and a library will be my main poll issues, besides getting drains constructed and street lights and pipe-water supply connections installed in the remaining areas of my ward.”

Meanwhile, Hemlata has a chance of getting elected for the fourth time as ward 17 has been reserved for women this time. However, five other women are in the fray. In the last election, the seat was not reserved, and there were eight candidates. While Hemlata secured 319 votes, her nearest rival, Suman Kumar, got a little over 200 votes. This time, the ward has a total of 2,045 voters.

Speaking to TOI, Hemlata said, “Construction of a shed at the cremation ghat, drains and pathways in the newly developed areas of her ward, and completion of pipe-water supply connections in some parts of the ward will be her main poll agenda.”