CM Das stays put in Dumka for three days, refuses to campaign for BJP candidate
SITUATION IN DUMKA REMAINED ‘CRITICAL’ AS LOCAL BJP MP SUNIL SOREN, WHO HAD DEFEATED SHIBU SOREN IN 2019 LS ELECTION, HAS ALSO STAYED AWAY FROM CAMPAIGNING
DUMKA: Despite camping in the town for the last four days, chief minister Raghubar Das did not campaign for party candidate Lois Marandi, stoking speculations if everything was fine in the saffron party camps in Dumka.
Though the CM has claimed that “BJP is winning the Dumka seat” but he did not address any election meeting or even a roadshow in the assembly.
Marandi had defeated Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren in last assembly election.
This time, rebel BJP leader Saryu Roy took the command for last two days in support of Hemant. He launched the campaign against the BJP candidate when Das was in the town.
Sources in the party said the situation in Dumka assembly segment was “critical” as local BJP MP Sunil Soren, who had defeated JMM supremo Shibu Soren in 2019 Lok Sabha election, has also stayed away from campaigning. He, however, joined the party meeting when Marandi was going to file nomination. But after addressing the meeting, he had left the dais in presence of the CM.
The BJP MP, however, at the PM’s rally said he had appealed to the people to support all the BJP candidates so that the party could form its government again. “We are supporting the BJP candidate wholeheartedly,” he added.
Marandi, however, claimed that she was fortunate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a big rally in Dumka on December 15. “It was a big gift for us,” she added.
The PM rally in Dumka was attended by candidates and their supporters from across nine assembly constituencies. After two days, Modi had again addressed a rally in Barhait. It is to be noted here that JMM candidate Hemant Soren is contesting the elections from both the places — Dumka and Barhait.
Sources said the local BJP party workers however rue the fact that not a single address was made by any senior leader in the town area till the end of campaigning, on December 18. Last week, only few local women had organised a roadshow with Marandi in the town. “We are campaigning for our candidate. Personally, Lois Marandi is visiting door to door to meet the voters,” said Gayetri Jaiswal, BJP district women president.