Two stalwarts of Jharkhand politics and foes turned friends shared the stage on Friday when Jharkhand Mukti Morcha JMM) patriarch Shibu Soren and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) Supremo Babulal Marandi appealed for votes in Dumka Parliamentary Constituency for JMM candidate Shibu Soren.
It may be mentioned here that Marandi defeated Shibu Soren in 1998 as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Dumka seat and he had also contested parliamentary elections of 2014 but got defeated by JMM Supremo but this time Marandi is canvassing for JMM Supremo against BJP. Interestingly, Marandi and Soren, both were Chief Ministers of the State.
Both the leaders have attended three public meetings in Dumka along with JMM MLA from Bahragora, Kunal Sarangi.
Addressing the gathering at Asanbedia under Jamtara State Assembly Constituency in Dumka, Marandi said that once upon a time they were fighting against each other for the betterment of people of the State but the current situation has forced him to share the State with JMM patriarch for the same cause as BJP Government be it in Centre or State only mislead people of the State and the Country.
“I am fortunate that I have got chance to share the dais with one of the prominent figures of Jharkhand movement. Guru Ji (Shibu Soren). He had struggled hard for the State and the people of the area. I received 1 Lakh 58 thousand votes in 2014 elections from the seat, I am appealing to people of the constituency give all the votes to Guru Ji which they have given to me for ensuring Guru Ji’s victory,” Marandi added.
While appealing to the people Shibu Soren said this is very important election for the people of the State.
“We have to go with the time as BJP is trying to usurp our water, land and forest for which have righted for so many years. We have to save our natural resources from their hands. The Centre and State Government is trying to usurp our natural resources for giving it to their industrialist’s friends,” he added.
Criticising the State Government, Soren said that the State Government is anti-poor and in this Government no one is hearing the voice of poor.
JMM MLA Kunal Sarangi accompanied Soren and Marandi entire day of campaigning.
Speaking on the occasion Sarangi said that BJP has no issue for Jharkhand as all the star campaigner of the party be it Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National president Amit Shah and Chief Minister Raghubar Das has nothing to say about the State they are only appealing vote for the people on the
name of religion.