Ex-Jharkhand CMs in race for LS polls

Marandi,who was at the helm when the state was born on November 15,2000,now fights from Koderma as a candidate of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha he formed in 2007 after quitting BJP.

Marandi says his poll plank would be corruption.

“During my two-and-a half-year term as CM,a strict vigil was kept on corruption. Unfortunately after I stepped down,corruption reached its peak during the UPA and the NDA coalitions thereafter,” Marandi said.

He is facing two-time MP Trilokdhari Singh of Congress.

His successor,Arjun Munda,who had led the state as the head of BJP-led NDA,is wooing voters with promises of initiating steps to provide drinking water,good roads and basic amenities in the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituency if the NDA is voted to power at the Centre.

Pitted against JVM’s Arvind Singh,JMM’s sitting MP Suman Mahto and All Jharkhand Students Union’s former MP Sailendra Mahato,the BJP candidate Arjun Munda accuses the previous UPA governments led by Madhu Koda and Shibu Soren of failing to provide a stable government to the people.

Munda’s government fell in 2006 over a trivial issue– the condition of a 22 km stretch of bumpy road in Singhbhum,a constituency known for its rich iron ore.

The issue propelled Koda to the chief minister’s chair,but now he is facing tough challenge from five-time MP and Congress nominee Bagun Sumbrai,who has made the Baraiburu-Gamahria road a major issue.

“Despite the tall talks he made in the state assembly over the condition of the road,Koda failed to repair the most important road which ferries innumerable mineral-laden trucks daily,” Sumbrai said.

Undeterred by Sumbrai’s attack,Koda,who served as chief minister for 23 months and contesting the Lok Sabha seat as independent,is hoping to end Sumbrai’s reign as public representative from Singhbhum with tacit support from the RJD and the LJP.

“When I was chief minister I started several developmental projects in the state. I have also taken up progressive schemes for Singhbhum. If I am elected,I will complete the unfinished programmes in the constituency,” the independent MLA said.