In a decision that appeared more obvious than surprising, the AJSU party working committee today chose former lohardaga MlA KK Bhagat’s wife Neeru Shanti Bhagat to fight the lohardaga by-poll scheduled in December.
A communiqué issued by AJSU party stated that the working committee headed by party Chief Sudesh Mahto discussed about probable candidates for lohardaga polls and it was decided that a family member of Bhagat should be given opportunity to fight the poll. It was unanimously decided that Neeru Shanti Bhagat would be made party candidate for the poll, it further said.
According to the party the parliamentary board of the party also conducted a meeting in which it approved the decision of the working committee declaring Neeru Shanti Bhagat a common candidate of the BJP and AJSU Party alliance.
The meetings were attended by CP Chaudhary, Ram Chandra Sahis, Vikas Munda, Prabhakar Tirkey, Deosharan Bhagat, Umakant Rajak, Hasan Ansari, BK Chand. among others.
The lohardga seat became vacant after conviction of former MlA KK Bhagat in a case of extortion and attempt to murder dating back of to 1993. The case involved renowned neurologist of State Dr KK Sinha.