Candidates put in last-minute efforts to woo voters
HEMANT SOREN’S YOUNGER BROTHER BASANT SOREN VISITED MASALIYA AND MASANJORE AREAS AND MET WITH THE LOCAL RESIDENTS
DUMKA: A day ahead of the polling across 16 constituencies for the last phase of the assembly elections, candidates carried out door-to-door campaign to in their last-ditch efforts to reach out to voters.
Many contestants also held meetings at their respective residences with party workers reviewing booth managements.
The top rank politicians who are fighting elections in the last phase are the former chief minister, Hemant Soren from Dumka and Barhait, the welfare Minister, Lois Marandi (from Dumka), the agriculture minister, Randheer Singh (from Sarath), Sita Soren, the daughterin-law of Sibu Soren from Jama, the JVM (P) general secretary, Pradeep Yadav from Podeyahat, Anant Ojha, the BJP MLA from Rajmahal, the former speaker of Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha, Alamgir Alam from Pakur and the former finance minister and senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, Stephen Marandi from Maheshpur assembly constituencies.
BJP candidate from Dumka, Lois Marandi who is contesting her third election held a meeting with her women supporters at her residence. One of the supporters said that necessary directions were given to them for ensuring women come to polling booth. After holding meetings, she paid door to door visits in some parts of the town seeking vote for the BJP.
Her opponent, Hemant Soren visited Barhait to meet the party workers. In his absence, his younger brother Basant Soren visited Masaliya and Masanjore areas and met the locals with the supporters and asked support for the JMM, sources said. “We would win both the seats,” said Basant.
Party workers in Poreyahat said that JVM (P) candidate, Pradeep Yadav and the JMM candidate Ashok Kumar also held meetings at their respective residents with the party workers.
Pradeep Yadav is contesting assembly election from here for the sixth time. Ashok Kumar who is contesting first time assembly election claimed that his booth management was strong and he would win the election.
The former BJP state president, Tala Marandi, who is contesting election from Boriyo on AJSU party ticket is looking hopeful to win as he was the sitting BJP MLA and the party had denied him giving second chance from here.
Sources said three AJSU party candidates including Aquil Akhtar from Pakur, Tala Marandi from Boriyo and Stephy Murmu from Jama were trying their luck to defeat their nearest rival including Alamgir Alam (Congress), Surya Hansda (BJP) and Sita Soren (JMM) respectively.
Aquil Akhar had won from Pakur in 2009 on JMM ticket, but under the alliance with the Congress the JMM leaved Pakur for the sitting Congress MLA resulting in Akhtar quit the party and joined AJSU. Akhtar said that he was sure for wining this seat again.
Stephen Marandi, the senior most JMM leader who is contesting election from Maheshpur assembly constituency second time, said, “I organise door to door meeting with the party workers at Maheshpur and Pakuriya areas.
The BJP candidate from Rajmahal, Anant Ojha, also said that he met the locals of Rajmahal and sought vote for the party.