Congress names 7, JMM fields BJP turncoat against Champai

As per the initial agreement, JMM, Congress, RJD, and CPI(M-L) were supposed to field 41, 30, six and four candidates respectively, in the 81-member constituency.

However, JMM has announced its candidates in 42 seats so far and is likely to announce one more candidate from Jama Assembly. Sources said that Lois Marandi, who had defected from the BJP to the JMM, may fight from Jama seat.  Congress has so far announced 28 candidates and is likely to announce its candidates in two more seats — Bokaro and Dhanbad.

In Bishrampur assembly seat Congress’ newcomer Sudhir Kumar Chandravanshi will take on RJD’s Naresh Prasad Singh. BJP’s three-time MLA and incumbent Ramchandra Chandravanshi too is in the contest for this seat.

From Dhanwar seat, JMM and ally CPI(M-L) will contest against each other. JMM has fielded Nizamuddin Ansari after CPI(M-L) fielded its candidate Raj Kumar Yadav. Incumbent MLA and BJP chief  Babulal Marandi is also contesting from this seat.

Sources said that there may be a friendly contest from this seat. However, sources in the CPI(M-L) said that the party is unhappy and the “deadlock continues”.

In the 2019 elections, Ansari, contesting from Dhanwar, got less than 15,000 votes falling to sixth place. Marandi, the incumbent MLA, got over 52,000 votes and CPI(M-L)L’s Raj Kumar Yadav polled 32,245 votes. Sources in various parties said if the disagreement among INDIA bloc continues, BJP will have a ‘clear edge’ on this seat.

Meanwhile, JMM withdrew the candidature of Snehlata Kandulna and fielded Ramsurya Munda from Khunti seat. Sources said that a section of leaders were convinced with the candidature of Kandulna.

Jailed MLA Alamgir Alam’s wife Nishat Alam has been given the ticket from Pakur assembly constituency. Nishat Alam will take on AJSUP’s Azhar Islam. Both are newcomers. Alamgir was arrested by the ED on money laundering charges.

From the Barhi assembly, Congress denied the ticket to former MLA Umashankar Akela and gave it to a new candidate Arun Sahu. From Kanke seat, veteran Congress leader Suresh Baitha will take on former BJP MLA Jitu Charan Ram. BJP denied the ticket to incumbent Sammari Lal.

Lal Suraj, who defected from the BJP in August, is the Congress candidate from Panki assembly constituency. He will take on the BJP’s incumbent Kushwaha Shashi Bhushan Mehta.

Chatra’s Lok Sabha candidate KN Tripathi will be Congress candidate from Daltonganj seat. He will take on the incumbent Alok Chaurasiya.