Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) supremo Babulal Marandi has identified two seats for himself to contest the Assembly elections. It is learnt that the former Jharkhand Chief Minister whose party is battling hard with defectors would file nomination from either Koderma or Rajdhanwar constituency.
Sources in the party said that his candidature for the polls has been finalised after much deliberations within the JVM as the party is not in its best shape and time following a series of relinquishments. This is also after the defeat the leader had to digest during the lok Sabha elections held not long back.
“Earlier, there was no clarity over his fighting but since the party has seen breakups and host of our sitting MlAs quitting he decided to contest. It was required considering the morale of the party workers into mind. As of now he may fight from Koderma or Rajdhawar whereas Giridih is also an option. But the first two are the best seats for him to contest and the party has zeroed in onto those,” said a party general secretary.
JVM on Sunday announced its first list of 34 candidates which misses names on the two said constituencies. The party is said to be focusing on the constituencies falling in first and second phases of November-December bound polls and “safer” seats would be named later which also include Pradeep Yadav’s Poraiyahat.
Also, the party on Monday formally announced its understanding with Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Mamta Banerjee-led party would field its candidates in six Assembly segments while on one seat the parties may fight in friendly manner. “We have complete agreement on six seats which are Mandar, Gumla, Manika, Torpa, Kanke and Khijri while in Bishunpur both of us can contest. The agreement has been done after TMC general secretary Mukul Roy and Jharkhand president Bandhu Tirkey met Babulal Marandi,” said JVM leader Praveen Singh in a press conference jointly addressed with Tirkey.
Notably, the TMC had fielded Bishunpur MlA Chamra linda during parliamentary polls and had got over 36000 votes. Though, linda has switched over to the JMM for this election, the TMC is banking on the vote he got on its ticket. Moreover, Bandhu Tirkey lauded the leadership qualities in Marandi on the occasion of making a fresh beginning.
“I have been an admirer of the leadership of Babulal Marandi from the beginning. He is also the most popular leader of Jharkhand in my mind. I consulted my party’s central leadership and persuaded them for the understanding. It is not exactly an alliance,” said he, adding some more like minded parties and leaders like Arup Chatterjee of Marxist Coordination Committee were in touch for understanding of similar kind.
The TMC has also named four candidates—Niranjan Kalindi (Kanke), Neera Tirkey (Manika), Klemensia Hembrum (Torpa) and Bandhu Tirkey (Mandar) while other names are to follow. Actor Mithun Chakraborty and footballer Bhaichung Bhutia besides, others would campaign for its candidates. While the JVM besides naming erstwhile BJP leader Satyanand Bhokta from Chatra has also given ticket to Anita Dutt from Garhwa.