The stress for the upcoming parliamentary elections can take a toll on anyone. But few would understand the amount of pressure on politicians, who are busy and trying to promote themselves and the political party they are affiliated with through a series of campaigns and rallies everyday in their constituency.
Political parties and candidates are making their last ditch effort to garner people’s support in their favour as campaigning is coming to an end on April 15 evening in Giridih parliamentary constituency. The Giridih constituency will go to poll on April 17.
More than 15 lakh voters from Giridih constituency will cast their votes on April 17 to elect their member of parliament . Altogether 17 candidates are in the poll fray to try their luck. Prominent among those who are contesting, includes Ravinder Kumar Pandey of BJP, Jagarnath Mahto sitting MlA of Dumari of JMM ,State JDU chief Jaleshwar Mahto,
Dr Saba Ahmad of JVM, TMC candidate and supreme court lawyer Ashutosh Verma and AJSU supremo Sudesh Mahto’s father-in-law Dr UC Mehta. In the past five polls, Ravindra Kumar Pandey, won four times and Teklal Mahto won this seat once in 2005.
The JMM has filed Jagarnath Mahto, whom party workers considered local, while the top bosses are trying to project him as a dedicated worker, who is contesting first time is banking on Mahto voters.
Mahto is focusing on rural voters and local Mahto leaders have also extended their support to the JMM candidate. However, in Giridih the deciding factors are Mahto and minority community voters. Sources said that the Mahtos are considered staunch supporters of JMM . Minority voters are undecided as to whom to support this time. Sources said both the communities tend to vote en mass. A political observers said the support of Muslim and Mahto voters to any party can have a bearing on the outcome of results .
BJP sitting MP Ravindra Kumar Panday exuded confidence that he will definitely win the Giridih seat as earlier he had won Giridih four times plus this time there was a NaMo wave across the country. “No one can stop me from wining,” Pandey said.
JMM –UPA combine candidate Jagarnath Mahto said Mahtos, Manjhi s and minority voters were with him.”I am a UPA candidate and the local people have seen my devotion as Dumari MlA and I will surely emerge victorious,” he claimed .