Putting in all their efforts during these polls, political parties, including senior leaders, on Wednesday held maximum number of election rallies in Santhal Pargana, a day ahead of the conclusion of campaigning for the fifth and the last phase for the ongoing elections in the State. RJD chief lalu Prasad, however, had to cancel his rallies as he could not get his a helicopter for ferrying him to his destination.
“It is one of the highest figures till date where such a large number of high profile election meetings have been conducted on a single day. According to our records, as many as 12 rallies of high profile leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Arjun Munda and Manoj Tiwari along with several other people took place on Wednesday,” said a staff at SDO office in Dumka requesting anonymity. A total of over 45 election rallies were held in Sathal on Wednesday, he added.
“lalu ji had to postpone his rallies on Wednesday due to non availability of helicopter. He has left for Sahebganj by train, and will try to address rallies there tomorrow,” said senior RJD leader Rajesh Yadav. The party chief was to address rallies at five places – Sahebganj, Rajmahal, Godda, Nala and Jamtada, he added. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi also scheduled to hold election rallies at Shikaripra and Mahgama. State Congress President Sukhdeo Bhagat as well as well as Jharkhand Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad accompanied Gandhi seeking votes for the Congress candidates.
Similarly, senior leaders of BJP also held a number of rallies in Santhal on Wednesday. Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda held elections rallies at Barhet, Shikaripara, Jamtara and Masalia, BJP National Spokesperson Shehnawaz Hussain at Sarath, Mahgama, Sahebganj and Pakur. Bhojpuri cine star and MP Manoj Tiwari conducted election rallies at Godda, Mahgama, Barhet and Sarath while Union Minister Babul Supriyo addressed the people of Podayyahaat, Maheshpur, and Nala.
JMM on the other hand, in order to retain its stronghold also did over a dozen of rallies in Santhal on Wednesday. JMM Chief Shibu Soren held rallies at Pakur, Sarath, Jarmundi as well as Jamtara where he addressed people at two different locations. Chief Minister Hemant Soren held separate rallies at Rajmahal, Barhet, littipara, Maheshpur, Nala along with two public meetings at Dumka.
While on Thursday, senior Soren is scheduled to address as many as ten elections rallies at different places in Santhal region. “We are trying to save our ground in the region while the opposition parties are trying to break in to our stronghold which seems to be impossible,” said a JMM party worker. Santhal Pargana, despite being a breeding ground for several stalwarts like Shibu Soren, Babulal Marandi, Hemant Soren, Stephen Marandi, Simon Marandi, Hemlal Murmu, Pradeep Yadav, Nalin Soren, is still devoid of some of the basic amenities in the region.
The region is dominated by the tribal veteran and JMM Chief Shibu Soren for the last 35 years.