Campaigning for Mandar by-poll has picked up momentum with BJP and Congress going full throttle to woo the voters. As there is less than a week left for the election (June 23), the BJP has put up all its force to woo the voters.
On Friday, BJP star campaigners, which include BJP legislative party leader Babulal Marandi, Union minister of state for education Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda and BJP state president Deepak Prakash campaigned extensively for BJP candidate Gangotri Kujur.
Marandi addressing a rally at Sosai Ashram (Mandar) targeted JMM and Congress leadership over promoting dynastic politics and having a soft corner towards corruption. Marandi urged the people to vote in support of BJP which will directly nail dynastic politics and corruption.
Marandi said that in the two and half year government of JMM/Congress no developmental work has been carried out as leaders sitting at top position in this government's sole aim is to loot the state exchequer. The BJP leader further said that corruption in this government is rampant including at the police department. Targeting the government Marandi said, Jharkhand is first state in the country where Chief Minister allots mining lease on his name and his family members.
Union Minister of State for Education, Annapurna Devi, too intensively addressed several public meetings in support of BJP candidate Kujur. She addressed public meetings at East Semra, Chachgura Gargaon, Chinaron, Purio, Jaria, Hariharpur, Mehgaon where she highlighted the failure of the State government and the welfare schemes of the Modi government. She said that the present government is an anti-development government. An opportunity has come to teach a lesson to them in this by-election. Annapurna addressing the gathering said that the JMM/Congress alliance government is anti-tribal, anti-Dalit, anti-women, anti-backward government. In the Panchayat elections, this government has completely betrayed the public, due to which the public has also made it feel its power. Today the government of the village is also being formed in all the districts by the BJP.
State BJP president Deepak Prakash too addressed several public meetings in support of party candidate Kujur. Targeting the JMM and Congress, he said that while JMM tried to sell the separate statehood movement, it was Congress which was the buyer. He also targeted former MLA Bandhu Tirkey for his involvement in a disproportionate assets case.
There are 14 candidates in the fray for the Mandar Assembly bye-election. Sources said that though there are 14 candidates in fray, the seat is likely to witness a triangular contest. The main contest is between Gangotri Kujur of BJP, Shilpi Neha Tirkey of Congress and Deo Kumar Dhan as independent.
This bye-election, it is believed to be a tough contest between Congress, BJP and independent Dev Kumar Dhan. The by-poll is also a litmus test for both ruling alliance and BJP.
Caption: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda along with senior leaders of BJP during an election campaign at Mandar on Friday. PNS