Beleaguered JMM's core committee met in the evening after it received jolts first from sitting MP from Palamau Kameshwar Baitha on Thursday evening and on Friday by senior leader Hemlal Murmu. While Baitha joined the BJP, sulking Murmu is also heading the same way. However, the party managed to pacify sulking MlA Polus Surin who attended the meeting.
After a long meeting on party's Executive Committee, the JMM decided to announce candidate names onMarch 11. "The meeting discussed things in details and has finalised to contest Rajmahal, Dumka, Giridih and Jamshedpur lok Sabha seats. Named of the candidates would be announced after Guruji (JMM supremo Shibu Soren) returns from Chennai," said legislator and Minister in Hemant Soren Government Jai Prakash Bhai Patel. The committee also decided to field candidates in four other States- West Bengal (30), Bihar (19), Assom (5) and Odisha (4). In Jharkhand the party is to decide names for four seats it has received in a coalition understanding with Congress and RJD.
Saffron party BJP also met on Friday and hinted to repeat all the sitting MPs in the state in the April polls. State BJP President Ravindra Rai talking to the media persons said that names for the remaining seven parliamentary seats have been shortlisted and decision will be taken on it by the Central Election Committee.
"Extensive discussion took place on the names whose names have come to through applications and those who have expressed their desire to contest elections through other means for the remaining seven seats in the state," said Rai. Final call is expected to be taken on March 13.
On a question raised on the issue Kameshwar Baitha joining BJP, Rai said that several persons from different political parties have expressed their desire to join the party but they will be invited on appropriate platform and at the right time in the presence of senior party leaders. Rai however, cleared nobody will be allowed to join the party on the condition of giving him or
her party ticket.
According grapevine in the party, other than the seven sitting MPs, name of former Ranchi MP Ramtahal Chaudhary has almost been finalised, which only needs approval from the party's central committee.
On the other hand the Trinamool Congress has also started showing its wings and has the potential to bring the ruling coalition on a collision path.
Both new entrants Bandhu Trikey and Chamra linda extending their support to the Hemant Soren Government have joined the Mamta Banerjee led party and final for Ranchi and lohardaga lok Sabha seats, respectively.
"Names for the two have been finalised we are in a process to scrutiny names for the rest 12 seats for the lok Sabha. In a day or two, all the names would be finalised," said Tirkey after first meeting of party in the State.