The decision to field Nalin Soren and Mathura Prasad Mahto underscores the JMM’s strategic approach to the electoral process in these constituencies…reports Asian Lite News
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has made significant announcements regarding its candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. On Thursday, the party revealed its choices for two key constituencies. Nalin Soren, the incumbent legislator from Shikaripada, has been nominated to contest from the Dumka Lok Sabha seat.
This move effectively puts an end to speculation surrounding the potential candidacy of jailed former chief minister Hemant Soren from Dumka. Additionally, Mathura Prasad Mahto, the MLA from Tundi, has been selected to represent the party in the Giridih Lok Sabha seat.
The decision to field Nalin Soren and Mathura Prasad Mahto underscores the JMM’s strategic approach to the electoral process in these constituencies. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had already announced its candidate for the Dumka seat, nominating Sita Soren, the former JMM MLA and sister-in-law of Hemant Soren. This sets the stage for an intriguing electoral contest in Dumka, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Notably, the BJP had initially renominated Sunil Soren, the sitting MP from Dumka, on March 2. However, the party later withdrew his candidature to field Sita Soren, reflecting internal party dynamics and strategic considerations. Sunil Soren had emerged victorious against JMM president Shibu Soren in the 2019 polls by a substantial margin.
Sita Soren’s decision to join the BJP last month adds another layer of complexity to the electoral landscape in Jharkhand. She brings with her a political legacy, being a three-term MLA and the elder daughter-in-law of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren. Sita Soren’s allegations of neglect by the JMM and her subsequent isolation after the demise of her husband Durga Soren in 2009 add a personal dimension to her political journey and her choice to switch parties.
Meanwhile, the Congress has announced its candidates for three Lok Sabha constituencies – Lohardaga, Khunti, and Hazaribag. Kalicharan Munda, Sukhdeo Bhagat, and Jai Prakashbhai Patel have been nominated for these seats respectively. Additionally, an initial seat-sharing agreement has been reached among the INDIA bloc leaders for all 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. According to this understanding, the Congress and JMM would contest from seven and five seats respectively, with the RJD and CPI (ML) Liberation fielding candidates in one seat each.
Furthermore, the CPI (ML) Liberation has named Vinod Kumar Singh, a three-time MLA from the Bagodar seat, as its candidate for the Koderma Lok Sabha constituency. On the BJP’s side, candidates have been announced for 13 seats, with Giridih left for the AJSU Party. These developments set the stage for a dynamic and fiercely contested electoral battle in Jharkhand.
Elections will be held in Jharkhand in four phases – May 13, 20, 25, and June 1. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand with the BJP winning 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress got one seat each.
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