The Janta Dal-United (JD-U) one of the main forces behind the so called third front today developed cold feat over naming candidates for the upcoming lok Sabha elections even though it decided to contest from eight constituencies in Jharkhand. Despite one round of talks with left front parties suspense continues over who will contest from Chatra.
The JD(U) exhibited interest in Palamu and Chatra parliamentary seat and is likely to name candidate for the two constituencies by Friday evening. However, the party seems to be in direct conflict with another constituent of the Federal Front- the CPI- which is also eying Chatra lS seat. Interestingly, the CPI and the JD(U) held few rounds of talk on Thursday but issue is far being settled.
“We will request them to leave Chatra and contest from Jamshedpur or any other seat instead,” said JD(U) General Secretary KC Tyagi. The JD-U is likely to contest from Palamu, Jamshedpur, Giridih, lohardaga, Khunti, West Singhbhum, Koderma and Chatra while it will support candidates of CPI, CPI (M), Marxist Coordination Committee and RSP.
According to sources in the CPI, the party has conveyed the JD-U leadership that they will prefer to contest from Chatra seat where the party has declared Banwari Saw as the candidate from Chatra lS seat. “We held a meeting with them in the morning and have told them that we are going to file nomination for the Chatra constituency on 19th March,” said the source.
Nonetheless, the JD-U is willing to show flexibility in seat sharing as it has not disclosed date for naming candidates on other seats except Palamu and Chatra. “The JD(U) will contest on around eight seats however our doors are open if the CPI, CPI(M) or any other party wants to talk about seat sharing,” concluded Tyagi.