Six sitting MLAs, including a Cabinet Minister in Raghubar Das government, are in fray for Lok Sabha elections this time in State. The six lawmakers, through are set to become debutant in parliamentary elections, have the experience of representing their Assembly constituency for more than decades. The six MLAs contesting the elections are Chandra Prakash Chaudhary (Cabinet Minister State government), JMM senior leaders Champai Soren and Jagarnath Mahto, senior Congress leaders Sukhdeo Bhagat, Manoj Kumar Yadav and Geeta Koda.
Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, Minister of Water Resources and Drinking Water and Sanitation department, is contesting election from Giridih, Lok Sabha segment. Choudhary, the AJSU candidate is pitted against JMM three time sitting MLA from Dumri (Giridih) Jagarnath Mahto.
The battle of Giridih is likely to witness stiff contest as both Choudhary and Mahto have the experience of representing their respective assemblies for more than decades. Also, both Chaudhary and Mahto are Kurmis— one of most politically dominant castes in State. Unlike Mahto, who hails from Giridih, for Chaudhary, Giridih is new area as he is an outsider. Chaudhary is sitting AJSU MLA from Ramgarh constituency.
However, Chaudhary, who is close to party chief Sudesh Mahto in AJSU said, “I don’t see a big challenge in Giridih. I have full faith in people, Modi jee has done a lot of work and the people who are happy with Modi jee’s work will definitely give him second time and I am confident that people in Giridih will repose faith electing me.”
Jamshedpur is another hot seat which is likely to witness high pitched electoral battle as the fight is between two leaders who started their political career from JMM. JMM senior leader Champai Soren representing Seraikela in Assembly (part of Jamshedpur parliament) is contesting his first parliamentary elections from Steel City. Soren, close to JMM chief Shibu Soren has been representing the ST reserved constituency for more than two decades. He is pitted against Vidyut Varun Mahato who joined BJP before 2014 election from JMM. Vidyut was brought to BJP on the intervention of former Chief Minister Arjun Munda and Munda’s calculation was right as he brought large number of votes from rural areas defeating then JVM heavyweight Dr Ajoy Kumar in 2014. However, this time he has challenge from Champai Soren who is popular in East Singhbhum region as Kolhan tiger.
Similarly, from Lohardaga the Congress party has given ticket to Sukhdeo Bhagat the sitting MLA from Lohardaga assembly seat and former State Congress president against Sudarshan Bhagat the sitting MP from Lohardaga and a union minister in Modi Cabinet.
Another senior Congress leader, who is in fray is Barhi MLA, Manoj Kumar Yadav, who is contesting election from Chatra against BJP sitting MP Sunil Singh.
Congress leader Geeta Koda, wife of former CM Madhu Koda, is contesting election from Singhbhum against BJP state president Laxman Gilua. Geeta MLA from Jagannathpur has been representing the seat for two consecutive terms.