The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced three more candidates in its fourth list for the elections in Jharkhand, thereby taking the total count of its candidates to 72 – an indication that the ruling party is unwilling to entertain the demands of its long-term ally AJSU Party. The latter, however, has still kept a wait and watch stance after announcing candidates for 19 seats.
The BJP announced names of Mochiram Bauri for Jugsalai (SC) seat, Sudhir Sundi for Jaganathpur (ST) seat and Reeta Devi Munda for Tamar (ST) seat, from where sitting MLA Vikas Singh Munda, who recently joined the JMM after leaving AJSU Party, is contesting the poll. The Tamar seat also becomes important because former Minister, Raja Peter alias Gopal Krishna Patar and former naxal commander Kundan Pahan, who are incarcerated on charges of murder of Vikas Munda’s father former minister Ramesh Singh Munda.
The AJSU party on Saturday did not release any statement over alliance issue. However, the party, which is almost set to go alone in the poll battle, is ready with its manifesto to be released by party chief Sudesh Mahto on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the delay in announcement of his name for Jamshedpur (west) constituency has irked senior BJP leader and incumbent Minister Saryu Roy, who today announced that he is not interest to contest from the seat on party ticket.
Holding a press conference in Jamshedpur on Saturday, Roy said, “I decided to bring out the party senior leaders from the state of confusion. I have told them not to consider my name for the constituency as I have no interest left to contest election on party ticket. I have asked them to find a suitable candidate for the seat and I will accept it happily. I am feeling relieved now,” he said.
“Tomorrow I will have a discussion with the party workers, who have supported me for over 15 years and then take a decision on contesting the election. I need to thank them also for their support,” said the Minister, who has already bought nomination forms from both Jamshedpur East and West seats.
Notably, the BJP has fielded Chief Minister Raghubar Das from Jamshedpur East seat, which is his traditional seat and it is likely that Roy will challenge Das contesting as an independent candidate from the seat. Roy has been frequently raising issues against the working style of the government and has written several letters to BJP Central leadership expressing his discontent.
