SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 16: Brushing aside all suspense, Congress on Tuesday nominated a political greenhorn, Anupama Singh, to challenge BJP’s Dhulu Mahto in Dhanbad.
Mahto, convicted in at least four cases, faces about 33 serious criminal cases.
Anupama is wife of Congress MLA
Anupama Singh is the wife of Congress Bermo MLA Jayamangal Singh, alias Anup Singh, and daughter-in-law of former minister Rajendra Prasad Singh. Anup Singh is the president of the Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU) and senior vice president of the Indian National Trade Union Cong (INTUC).
Anupama Singh, a postgraduate from Patna University, is an INTUC national central committee member.
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Dhanbad is a trade union-influenced constituency
Since the Dhanbad seat is considered a trade union-influenced constituency, Congress has reposed faith in Anupama Singh to demolish the BJP citadel. In the 2004 election, the Congress fielded RCMS leader Chandrashekhar Dubey, alias Dadai Dubey, who won the Dhanbad seat. Since then, no Congress candidate has won from Dhanbad.
RCMU general secretary AK Jha said that Anupama Singh has been an active member of the INTUC national body since Rajendra Prasad Singh (the late former INTUC national general secretary) and draws massive support from miners. Congress vice-president and RCMU working president Brajendra Prasad Singh said Anupama Singh’sSingh’s candidature had enthused the rank and file of party workers and miners of Dhanbad –Bokaro colliery.
Battleline clear for Dhanbad seat
With the Congress candidate’s announcement, the Dhanbad seat’s battle line has been cleared. A triangular contest will be between BJP candidate Dhulu Mahto, Congress candidate Anupama Singh and Marxist Coordination Committee (MCC of former MP AK Roy) candidate Jagdish Rawani. Regional outfit Jharkhand Bhasha Khatiyan Sangharsh Samit (JBKKSS) candidate Iqbal Ansari is also in the fray.
The polling on the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat is scheduled for May 25.
