Singh reaches Dhanbad to warm welcome
DHANBAD: Congress leader Anupama Singh reached the Dhanbad district on Wednesday for the first time after being allotted the party ticket from the constituency for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Anupama, the wife of Congress MLA from Bermo, Jaymangal Singh alias Anup Singh, was offered a huge welcome at Kisan Chowk in Dhanbad by party workers. She later reached Raghukul to meet Jharia MLA Purnima Niraj Singh before heading to the party office to hold a meeting with party workers. She said, “I might have secured the party ticket, but Congress has allotted the ticket to me to give a befitting reply to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has fielded a candidate (Dhullu Mahto), accused of sexual exploitation of women.”
“Congress has allotted tickets to two women in Jharkhand on the occasion of Ashtami Tithi of Navratri, which speaks volumes about the party’s long tradition of offering respect to women,” she added.
Responding to media queries regarding her lack of political experience, she said, “Though I may lack political experience of my own, the voters are experienced enough here to choose a woman against a candidate (Dhullu Mahto), accused of exploiting women.”
“Being in my husband’s family for over 20 years, I have keenly observed the struggle of my father-in-law, Late Rajendra Prasad Singh, first for securing the rights of coal workers and then also my husband who waged a stiff fight for securing recognition for the Indian National Trade Union Congress,” said Singh.
Regarding her priorities for development in Dhanbad, she said, “I have not witnessed any change in the development scenario of Dhanbad for a long time, especially during the long years of BJP’s tenure in the Dhanbad seat. A lot is required to be done.”
When asked about dissension from party leaders in view of many being in the race for the ticket, she rubbished the charges, saying that though others might have been allotted tickets, witnessing the BJP candidate (Dhullu’s view about women, the party has found her the best option to field a woman against Mahto. Regarding MLA of East Jamshedpur, Saryu Roy, also gearing up to fight, she said, “We are hopeful that he would reconsider his decision as his main objective is to defeat Dhullu Mahto, and I will also seek his blessings for my victory.”