The JMM, as expected, took a hard line on Thursday and made it clear that the party would field its own candidates in both Godda and Panki assembly constituencies undergoing bypoll on May 16.
Talking to media persons soon after Pradesh Congress Committee president Sukhdeo Bhagat along with RJD’s Annapurna Devi consulted him at a function at Vidhan Sabha, former Chief Minister Hemant Soren presented similar arguments that he had given during lohardaga bypoll to snub the Congress-led UPA.
“There is no scope left for any talk or alignment. The JMM would contest at both the places strongly. Any alliance is not possible with any party. Those who had come for talks are not the authorised ones. Their high command has not been in talks with us,” said the leader of Opposition bluntly.
JMM senior functionary Binod Pandey had already clarified JMM’s position in a press conference and formal announcement in this regard would come on Friday after ‘wider consultation’ with local cadres. Kushwaha Shashi Bhushan Mehta, who had given close fight to Bidesh Singh at Panki in Assembly elections and lost to him by just over 2000 votes, has already joined the JMM. Similar is the case at Godda where former DGP of Odisha Sanjeev Marik has been inducted into party fold keeping only the bypoll in mind.
On the other hand, the State BJP election committee met in the leadership of party president Ravindra Rai and Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Thursday to discuss probable candidates for the twin vacancies occurred in the Assembly. Party spokesperson Pradeep Sinha said that the committee has forwarded the list to the BJP’s central election committee and formal announcement in this regard may take place on Saturday.
Moreover, top sources in the party confided to The Pioneer that there is no second thought as far as Godda is concerned where lone name of Amit Mandal, son of slain BJP legislator Raghunandan Mandal, has been recommended. In the case of Panki, two names are taking rounds prominently that figure senior party leader Prem Singh along with Amit Tiwari who had contested last time just fairing badly against Bidesh Singh of the Congress.
“Party leadership is convinced that Prem Singh would be a more acceptable face for the voters at Panki. He has his support base across the caste and religion lines. He should have made candidate last time itself. Anyway he is the top contender for party ticket,” said a senior leader. On its part, Congress, as reported by this newspaper earlier has okayed name of Devender Singh, son of late Bidesh Singh, from Panki. Though, the party’s coordination committee is scheduled to meet on Friday to announce his candidature besides party’s decision to back RJD’s Sanjay Kumar Singh Yadav from Godda formally.
“Devender Singh must be our candidate from Panki considering political clout of his father and people’s leader Bidesh Singh. Sympathy factor is also there,” said PCC chief Sukhdeo Bhagat. Party sources hinted that Devender Singh would file his papers on April 27.