As many as 26 nominations were filed on March 25 for the fifth phase constituency of General Election in Jharkhand that included noted social activist Dayamani Barla. Barla filed nomination for Khunti parliamentary seat on the ticket of Aam Admi Party.
As an Adivasi social activist, Barla is known for preventing global mining company, ArcelorMittal’, from setting up proposed steel plant unit in Jharkhand which according to her would have displaced around 40 villages.
The prominent voice of Adivasis has been conferred Ellen l lutz Indigenous Rights Award for 2013 which is given by Indigenous Peoples rights organisation. Her contribution for the protection of Adivasi rights is considered to swing the tide in Khunti in the AAP’s favour. Controversial AAP candidate for Ranchi Amanullah also filed nomination Tuesday. He has faced stiff opposition from local AAP workers.
“People of Ranchi love me and that is the reason I filed nominations. My objective is to help in the development of Ranchi after winning from the constituency,” said Amanullah.
Notably, Bhartiya Janta Party candidate Ram Tahal Chaudhary completed nomination on Tuesday by submitting remaining set of nomination papers. Chaudhary’s campaigning was cut short on Tuesday because of this, said sources close to Chaudhary.
Former vice-president of Tata Steel Nirup Kumar Mahanty filed nomination on Tuesday. Mahanty will contest from Jamshedpur on Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ticket. Mahanty’s ticket from Jamshedpur was expected from the day he joined JMM in the presence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and JMM Chief Shibu Soren.
Incidentally, the scrutiny of candidates for the third phase constituency is complete with as many as 64 scrutiny reports selected while two reports have been rejected on various grounds. The rejections include nomination of lok Jan Vikas Morcha Candidate from Chatra, Rajendra lohra and Kishundhari Ram from Palamu who failed to furnish certificates from AAP. A total of 66 candidates were scrutinised for phase three elections.