For the first time since the announcement of JMM candidate from Jamshedpur, the JMM’s East Singhbhum district committee announced to lend its support to Niroop Mahanty’s candidature.

The district panel on Wednesday formally recommended the name Mahanty, a former Tata Steel vice president, to the central leadership, giving rest to the talks doing round about disagreement over Mahanty’s candidature. Sources went on inform that the JMM central committee had asked the district unit to recommend Mahanty’s name following which the district unit agreed to show a united face over his candidature.

“We are not objecting to his candidature at all. We have resolved to support Mahanty from Jamshedpur,” said JMM district committee president Ramesh Hansda after a meeting at party office in Uliyan today. He added Mahanty’s name has been recommended for the  Jamshedpur seat.He stated that party supremo Shibu Soren had asked them to back Mahanty. “We respect our party’s decision and will make sure that our candidate wins in the election,” Hansda noted.Insiders informed that the JMM’s district unit was against Mahanty’s accepting membership of JMM. However, it agreed to follow dictates from party high command and subsequently proposed Niroop candidate for the Jamshedpur seat.

It may be mentioned that Ramesh Hansda, Mohan Karmakar, were eying Jamshedpur. Hansda was one of the probables who was eying to bag the party’s ticket. Hansda, who is also has been working in the Potka block since several years, is the local favourite. During the last Assembly polls in 2005, despite in the good book of JMM supremo Shibu Soren, could not succeed in bagging the ticket.Meanwhile, Mahanty, who was also present at the meeting, rubbished the reports that there was any dissatisfaction over his candidature. “I am happy to be a part of JMM and will remain in the party. I belong to the city and give my best,” he added. Mahanty also addressed party workers at Agrico ground.