Campaigning for the fifth and final phase of Assembly elections will conclude on Wednesday, and political big guns are set to make the most of it. Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi will address a rally in Pakur on Wednesday — her first visit to Jharkhand since the announcement of elections here on November 1. Congress party has said that Wednesday’s rally will be her first ever public address in any State where Assembly elections are underway.
The five-phase election that started on November 30 has witnessed aggressive campaigning by several political bigwigs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who paid at least six visits to Jharkhand since the announcement of elections here — a trend that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attributes to Modi’s love for Jharkhand. Home Minister Amit Shah, too, has addressed rallies during each of the five phases of elections despite the upheaval over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The BJP plans to end the campaigning on a high note with a star-studded show in Santhal Pargana. Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan — a Bhojpuri superstar turned politician — will address rallies in Mahagama and Rajmahal on Wednesday, whereas Asansol MP Babul Supriyo — a popular Bollywood singer turned MP — will address election rallies in Maheshpur and Jamtara, a press communiqué from the BJP said on Tuesday.
Ex-BJP Minister-turned-independent candidate Saryu Roy on Tuesday addressed a rally in favour of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in Dumka — a happening that did not go down well with many BJP supporters in Jharkhand. Leader of Opposition and JMM Executive President Hemant Soren will address rallies in Dumka, Sahebganj, Deoghar, Pakur and Godda constituencies on Wednesday.
Priyanka Gandhi’s name was not included in the first list of star campaigners released by the Congress party here, which triggered political debates. “This will be her first ever rally in any Assembly election. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure maximum participation of supporters in the rally. Her presence will boost the morale of our candidates and also add to our chances of winning,” said Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) Spokesperson Alok Kumar Dubey.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Legislator and Leader of Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav will also address rallies for candidates of the tripartite alliance between RJD, JMM and Congress party on Wednesday. He will seek votes for the UPA candidates by addressing rallies in Godda, Jamtara, Dumka and Deoghar.
AJSU Party chief and former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto will address rallies in Jamtara, Nala, Rajmahal and Pakur constituencies on Wednesday. Mahto has been campaigning aggressively across the State after AJSU Party severed its ties with former ally BJP in Jharkhand. The party has fielded at least 52 candidates and many of them will contest against BJP candidates here.