Continuing with its unfinished task of finalising the names for three remaining Lok Sabha seats—Ranchi, Chatra and Koderma, the BJP Central Election Committee (CEC) will meet once again on Monday at the National Capital. The CEC, after having consultation with BJP’s national president Amit Shah, will announce the names for three remaining seats on Monday.
The BJP Central Election Committee on Saturday evening released the names for 10 Lok Sabha constituencies with some surprises. The major surprise in BJP list was replacement of eight times Lok Sabha MP and octogenarian Kariya Munda with former Chief Minister Arjun Munda from Khunti. The replacement of 82-year-old Kariya Munda has fuelled the speculation that Saffron party is likely to replace sitting Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary, who too has crossed the age of 75.
The BJP central leadership had already stated that leaders who have crossed 75 years are unlikely to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The Saffron party following the formula was not even hesitant in cutting the ticket of party former national president and deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani (92 years). Tickets were also denied to Kalraj Mishra, a senior leader from Uttar Pradesh and ex cabinet minister in Modi Government.
A senior state BJP leader requesting anonymity said, “It is very likely that central leadership is to cut the ticket of Ranchi sitting MP Ram Tahal Choudhary. Choudhary is already 77 years old and has represented the Ranchi parliamentary segment for five terms.”
He added, “BJP is cadre based party and party believes that younger generations should be given opportunity to prove their mettle.” Choudhary, who runs several educational institutions in State, started his political career from his native place Ormanjhi in 1966-67. He was first elected as MP in 1991 and since then has represented Ranchi parliamentary for five times.
Meanwhile, Ram Tahal Choudhary's supporters staged a protest outside BJP office on Sunday over speculations that Choudhary might be denied a ticket this time.
Sources said that names of state BJP senior leader Aditya Sahu, State Khadi Board Chairman Sanjay Seth, former president of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Amitabh Choudhary among others are on rounds as BJP candidate from Ranchi.
Apart from Ranchi, there is also opinion among state leadership that Ravindra Rai, former State BJP president and sitting MP from Koderma, is likely to be replaced. Sources said the state BJP leadership is not very happy with Rai functioning both within the party and in his constituency. Also, the battle in Koderma is to witness tough contest as Jharkhand Vikas Morcha president and former chief minister Babu Lal Marandi is to contest from Koderma. CPI ML lawmaker from Dhanwar, Raj Kumar Yadav, too is in political ring from Koderma. Sources said that BJP want to put up a strong candidate from Koderma against Marandi and Yadav.
The name of BJP MLA from Gandey Jai Prakash Verma and local leader Pranav Verma are doing rounds as probable contender from Koderma. Both Rai and Jai Prakash Verma are camping in Delhi at present.
The BJP too has to release the name from Chatra Lok Sabha segment. BJP sitting MP Chatra Sunil Kumar Singh is likely to be replaced; however, Singh who has blessing of senior leaders of RSS is camping in Delhi for his second time nomination from Chatra.
