The Jharkand Mukti Morcha (JMM) which part of Mahagathbandhan in State today released the names of candidates for 19 Lok Sabha seats in four states, including four candidates from Jharkhand. In Jharkhand, the JMM is contesting from Dumka, Raj Mahal (both in Santhal Pargana), Giridih and Jamshedpur, while rest 15 candidates will contest from Bengal, Odisha and Bihar.
From Dumka the traditional seat of JMM, the party has decided to field JMM chief Shibu Soren, who has represented the seat eight times. Soren entered the Parliament for the first time from Dumka in 1980 and since then he has been continuously representing the tribal seat barring two times when BJP candidate Babu Lal Marandi defeated the JMM heavyweight. 75-year-old Soren, one of the founder members of JMM will contest against BJP’s Sunil Soren, who is much younger to the JMM patriarch. The JMM from Raj Mahal has retained its sitting MP Vijay Hansdak. Dumka and Raj Mahal were the two seats in State, which JMM won in 2014 despite Modi wave.
From Giridih, the party has given ticket to Jagarnath Mahto, a JMM MLA from Dumri in Giridih. Jagarnath Mahto who is facing court cases, has been representing the seat in Assembly for three consecutive terms. The party also announced its candidate from Jamshedpur. The party has decided to field Seraikela Kharswan MLA, Champai Soren popularly known as Kolhan Tiger from Jamshedpur seat. Champai Soren, who first entered the assembly in 1990 (then united Bihar), has been representing the seat since 2005 continuously and is going to contest the parliament election for the first time.
Earlier, the party was to field Jamshedpur Kurmi leader Astik Mahato from Steel City. Astik Mahato who recently joined JMM in presence of party supremo Shibu Soren and former Chief Minister cum party executive president Hemant Soren at a function in Uliyan is said to be popular Kurmi face in Jamshedpur having a sizeable Kurmi population. However, in last few days, a lot of developments occurred within the JMM. On Tuesday, Champai Soren visited JMM executive president Hemant Soren’s residence and thereafter the party decided to go ahead with fielding Soren from the seat.
JMM general secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “The JMM apart from contesting four seats in Jharkhand where the party is partner of Mahagathbandhan has also decided to contest from Bengal, Odisha and Bihar. The party will also field candidates in Odisha Assembly.”
Bhattacharya said, “In Bengal the party will contest on 10 parliamentary seats, which include Malda East and West, Bankura, Asansol, Balurghat, Purulia and four others. These seats have sizeable presence of tribals and were part of JMM separate statehood movement.” In Odisha, the party has decided to contest from Mayurbhanj, where the party has pitted Anjali Soren as party candidate.
In Bihar, the party will contest from Katihar, Purneia, Kishanganj and Banka. From Purneia and Kishanganj the party has decided to field tribal leader Sakal Murmu and Manju Murmu respectively.
In Katihar the party has fielded Javed Hassan while from Banka the seat which borders Santhal Pargana, the party has fielded Raj Kishore Prasad alias Pappu Yadav.