Former Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto, defeated by JMM candidate Amit Mahto during 2014 assembly elections, has resorted to one to one contact to regain the lost turf in Silli.
Sudesh has been doing intensive campaigning in Silli for the last several days, holding 20-25 public meetings in a day to seek votes in his favour on the issue of development.
The seat became vacant after sitting MlA Amit Mahto was disqualified following his conviction by a Ranchi Court in a criminal case related to manhandling the Sonahatu Circle Officer and was awarded two-year imprisonment in March this year.
“last time during 2014 assembly elections, I could not reach out to the people for making direct contact with them due to the political activities outside the constituency, probably due to which I was defeated. But this time I am trying to make direct communication with the people of Silli seeking vote on the issue of development,” said Mahto. Terming the current alliance of Opposition parties against him a general political exercise, he said that such decisions are generally taken in haste out of fear of getting defeated.
Rejecting the allegations that he had been left alone in Silli, Sudesh said that he had the support of the people of Silli as it was a direct contest between the alliance of various leaders led by the leader of Opposition parties and an alliance of the people, led by him.
“They don’t have any common agenda; they have come together only on political grounds as people come together when they are in danger,” Sudesh added. Moreover, they do not have a regional thought, but a regional face only on the basis of which they are trying to mould people in their fold, he added.
Remarkably, leaving no stone unturned this time, Sudesh has been doing intensive campaigning not leaving even a single small pocket of voters in his constituency by holding around 20-25 public meetings in a day. Party Spokesperson Deosharan Bhagat said that a separate team of party workers has been roped in to line-up with Mukhia, Gram Pradhan and village heads in advance to arrange public meetings.
“We have been trying to give them a comparative study of the developmental works done during the last three years and those undertaken during the term of Sudesh Mahto to make it easier for them to make decisions in his favour,” said another senior party leader. The party has been banking only on the basis of development, he added.
“We are getting a good response from the people of Silli as they have been seen waiting for Sudesh Mahto for long hours who have realized the mistake done last time by voting for the JMM candidate,” said the party leader. Referring to the woman candidate fielded by JMM, he said that people of Silli want only development and will not get diverted whoever the candidate is, he added.
Moreover, people are also being made aware about the double standard of the opposition parties on the issue of CNT-SPT, land acquisition bill or domicile policy.
“It is the JMM which has violated CNT Act the most in Jharkhand for its interests and now it is trying to misguide the people on this issue,” said Bhagat.
On Saturday, Sudesh held public meetings at Baridih, Dibadih, Salsud, Bandhdih, Jorya, Balwadih, Serengdih, Setla, Baritaand, Bandsur, Kotap and several other villages in Silli.