SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Mar 24: BJP has dropped its three sitting MPs in Jharkhand giving a ticket to Dhulu Mahto from Dhanbad in place of PN Singh.
Newly joined Sita Soren has been given a ticket from Dumka seat in place of sitting MP Sunil Singh who had defeated Shibu Soren in 2019.
Kalicharan Singh has been given a ticket from Chatra seat in place of sitting MP Sushil Kumar Singh.
Three-time Baghmara MLA Dhulu Mahto became a surprise BJP candidate from Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat in place of sitting MP Pashupati Nath Singh.
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Dhulu Mahto was first time elected MLA from the Baghmara assembly constituency in 2009 on the ticket of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) of former chief minister Babulal Marandi who formed the party after parting way from BJP.
The controversial MLA, who is facing more than two dozen cases, joined the BJP in 2014 and was elected MLA from the same constituency a second time. In the 2019 assembly elections Dhulu Mahto retained his seat from the Baghmara constituency and made hattrick.
Interestingly the Baghmara assembly constituency falls under the Giridih Lok Sabha segment which has been given to AJSU under alliance and sitting MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary has been given a ticket again.
A senior leader of the BJP said that in the probable list of three candidates for the Dhanbad seat, the name of Dhulu Mahto had not been included as he has no support based in six constituencies of the district.
Sitting MP PN Singh had won the seat in 2009, 2014 and 2019.