Chief Minister Hemant Soren had to go back empty handed as Sabita Mahato, widow of senior JMM leader and former deputy Chief Minister, Sudhir Mahato refused to contest lok Sabha elections from Jamshedpur seat.
At Sabita’s house in Uliyan, Kadma, Chief Minister Hemant Soren held talks for more than an hour on Sunday as Hemant Soren offered Sabita Mahto to contest the lok Sabha elections from Jamshedpur seat. But, Sabita declined the offer, citing reasons that she has the responsibility of grooming her four daughters. “I welcome the party’s gesture to offer to contest the lok Sabha elections from Jamshedpur seat. But, I have my priorities. I have to groom my daughters. I will definitely work for the party as and when situation arises,” said Sabita to the media after Chief Minister met her at her residence.
She said that her husband, Sudhir Mahto, had asked her not to contest the lok Sabha elections if situation so arise in future. She is presently chairman of Jharkhand State Agricultural Marketing Board. The Chief Minister had earlier made it clear that following a pre-poll alliance with Congress, the JMM has to field candidates at four constituencies in Jharkhand. “As Jamshedpur constituency is also one of these four seats, the party’s central committee had decided to field Sabita Mahto as a candidate from the Jamshedpur constituency, but she has declined to accept the offer,” said Soren while talking to media.
Soren said that the selection of candidates is made by the JMM’s central committee and the party president Shibu Soren will declare the name of the candidates latest by March 11. He said another constituency where the party will field a candidate is Giridih and declined to say anything about the rest of the two constituencies.
The Chief Minister, on being asked, said that the murder of AJSU leader Tileshwar Sahu is a sad thing to happen. He pointed out that the state government is committed to find out the killers of the slain leader and it is ready to recommend even for a CBI enquiry if necessary. “We are ready to recommend for a CBI enquiry into the Tileswar Sahu murder, while we condemn the incident in strongest words,” said Soren while addressing the media.