The electioneering for the littipara byelections, scheduled to be held on April 9, ended on Friday with the BJP enlisting support of an Independent candidate Shivcharan Malto, belonging to Paharia primitive tribes.
Malto relinquished his candidature in favour of BJP’s Hemlal Murmu.
Incidentally, the development has taken place a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over job letters to Paharia boys.
“I have decided to back the BJP in this poll. For the first time after 70 years of Independence something good for the region and the community is being done. The steps taken by the Governments, both at the Centre and the State, are for the wellbeing of the society, especially Paharias,” Malto told The Pioneer.
The Prime Minister had on Thursday laid foundation and opened several developmental projects in Sahibganj, the district adjacent to poll bound littipara of Pakur.
He emphatically mentioned the appointment letters distributed to the youths from the primitive tribes for whom special battalions have been raised by the Government.
The PM had on the occasion lauded the initiative taken by the State Government which was the first of its kind gesture shown for the ultra-marginalised section.
There are around 20,000 Paharaia voters in the constituency under poll.
“I have been working in social life for the last 23 years. There are lots of voters and workers of mine which would work and vote for the BJP candidate now. The party would gain considerably,” said Malto,
whose name although would appear in the list of contesting candidates since technically the date of name withdrawal is well over. However, another candidate belonging to the community, Gayalal Dehri, continues to be in the fray.
In political circles the step is being perceived as a masterstroke from the BJP which was looking for something like these to scale the JMM decades-long continuation in the area.
“It is like double delight for us and has come at a right time. Earlier, we managed to garner support of the first wife of late legislator Anil Murmu, Uniquey Udera Hansda. The party is gaining grounds and the poll result this time would surprise the JMM,” said BJP’s Rajmahal MlA Anant Ojha who has been made in-charge by the party for the bypoll.
Meanwhile, leaders from both the prominent parties into the arena remained stationed in the constituency till the bitter electioneering ended at 3 in the evening. The Chief Minister held a couple of public meetings and also sat with booth level workers of the party as his last ditch effort. However, he left the constituency for Ranchi as per the model code of conduct mandate.
JMM executive president Hemant Soren continuing with his rhetoric against the ruling BJP said that people are agitated against the Government. “Wherever the Chief Minister goes he has to face a great deal of resistance from the people. They are hurling shoes and sandals at him. People in the area and all over the State are unable to digest the decisions taken by the BJP Government,” said Hemant.
Besides him, JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay also held public meetings on the last day of campaigning.