Ahead of the third phase of Assembly elections, all political parties have hopped on the anti-corruption and development bandwagon to woo Mahtos, tribal and other backward classes voters.  However, this time residents of the rebel-hit pocket of Gomia constituency seem to be more interested in the political campaigns and less worried about the impact of polls on rebel activities.

Backwardness of the constituency, not rival candidates, poses a challenge to Madhav lal Singh, the sitting and the party candidate from Gomia where 14 candidates are trying their luck this time.  While a Ramgarh-based politician — who was denied a ticket from the BJP — is contesting against him as JMM nominee. Singh, a former Minister of the State defeated BJP’s Chhatru Mahto in 2009.

According to locals, the Gomia Assembly constituency is poised for an interesting triangular fight between the BJP, the JMM and the Congress. But Singh seems confident of retaining the seat.  “The people of Gomia constituency are very much satisfied with my earlier work in the constituency and again they will send me to the Jharkhand Assembly,” said Singh launching a direct attack on Yogendra Mahto  a JMM nominee for trying to divide the local voters.

“The JMM candidate is a coal mafia and dozens of cases have been leveled against him. Singh on Friday starts his day at Sonpura panchayat in Kasmar block and met hundred of local electorate and also increased his interaction with the Sonpura villagers to gained their support,” he said.

local residents told the pioneer that the Congress –turned BJP legislator has more influence on the electors, comprising mainly Mahto, and tribal masses. The JMM and BJP will both cash on the Muslim votes in the constituency, observers told. Naxalism, Crime, unemployment, migration, road connectivity, electricity, drinking water will be major poll issues in the Gomia constituency-said a local correspondent Ajay Kumar.