As the campaigning for the fourth phase of Dumri Assembly polls ended on Saturday evening, with the polling on December 16, it would be crucial for the sitting JMM candidate Jagarnath Mahto in the Dumari as three other heavyweight candidates are in fray.
The key candidates include Jagarnath Mahto of JMM, Yashoda Devi of AJSU, Pradeep Kumar Sahu of BJP and former minister Lal Chand Mahto contesting on JDU ticket.
According to the Election Commission the total voters in the constituency is 2,72,248 and there are 16 candidates in fray. Adequate security arrangements have been made to ensure smooth and peaceful poll in the Naxalite affected Dumri constituency, said Dumri, SDPO Niraj Kumar.
The poll momentum gained pace with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Amit Shah as well as JMM leader and former CM Hement Soren and Sudesh Mahto of AJSU addressing several rallies in Dumri and Giridih in last few days. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union minister Smriti Irani also addressed rallies seeking votes in support of BJP candidate. Actor-turn politician Manoj Tiwari also addressed election meeting in support of BJP candidate.
Dumari Assembly seat has been the traditional stronghold of JMM and is locked in a triangular fight with AJSU nominee, Yashoda Devi and BJP candidate and Pradeep Kumar Sahu.
Jagannath Mahto had been representing Dumari Assembly seat since 2000, however, BJP candidate Pradeep Kumar Sahu claim that there is anti-incumbency against the JMM MLA. Sahu claimed that Mahto did nothing for the constituency. However JMM MLA Mahto said the election is going to be rather easy this time, compared to the last three assembly polls, as “historical development work” has been done by him in Dumri region. Mahto said these parties tried a similar strategy in last elections but voters rejected their “gimmicks” and voted for development schemes that helped all sections of the society. Rejecting the JMM’s claims of development works in the region, Yashoda Devi of AJSU said he was limited to a few areas and the farmers are facing a major crisis in the agriculture-dominated rural areas of different panchayats of Dumari region due to drought and fuel price hike while youths are being compelled to migrate because of unemployment.
Moti Mahto a resident of Kanjkiro village said that I had high hope from MLA as he has been the MLA of this constituency for over last 15 years. Closer of several important industries like DVC, CCL and failure to set up new ones in Dumri have led to unemployment which has affected the local village youths who have to migrate to other states for job opportunities. While Chandermani Devi a para teacher said the Dumri desperately needs a good higher educational centre and a good hospital.