SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 25: Now all seems going well on assembly elections turf in Dhanbad for the BJP as its friend turned foe sadar MLA Raj Sinha and Dhanbad MP Dhulu Mahto have mended their fences before polls, scheduled in the second phase on October 20.
Raj Sinha took the initiative first. After getting the ticket he offered prayer at Ram Raj Mandir Chitahi Dham of Dhulu Mahto and went to meet the MP (Dhulu Mahto) at his Chitahi-based residence first time.
Raj Sinha told media persons that he had gone to request the MP (Dhulu Mahto) to accompany him in his nomination.
Relations between Sinha, Dhulu soured during LS polls
Notably, relations between MLA and MP soured during the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Raj Sinha, Dhulu Mahto, the then-sitting MP PN Singh and others were in the race for a ticket. Finally, Dhulu won the race and got the ticket.
All went well in the elections till the filing of the nomination by Dhulu Mahto. PN Singh and Raj Sinha showing solidarity with Dhulu Mahto joined in his nomination at the collectorate and resolved to work together for the victory of Mahto.
How did the rift widen?
But a meeting of Congress Dhanbad candidate Anupama Singh (wife of Anup Singh MLA) with BJP outgoing MP PN Singh at his Dhansar-based residence during the election, widened the internal rift with Dhulu Mahto and enhanced suspicion among them.
The political pundits pointed out that PN Singh went beyond the party line, met and blessed party rival candidate Anupama Singh as she belonged to his caste.
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“This was seen as an unprecedented step of a BJP senior leader (PN Singh) to meet a rival Cong candidate during elections. In 2009, when four times MP Rita Verma (winner of 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999) was denied a party ticket, she was of course upset but did not meet or support the then Cong candidate Chandrashekhar Dubey,” commented a senior BJP leader.
Dhulu’s comments fuel the fire
Rattled by the meeting of PN Singh with Cong candidate Anupama Singh, Dhulu Mahto publicly held his party’s MP PN Singh responsible for all problems at the Chandankyari ( Bokaro) poll meeting. Later in Dhanbad, he also held the MLA responsible for coal theft while talking with media persons at Randhir Verma Chowk.
These comments fuelled the fire in brewing tension among BJP leaders. PN Singh had already almost been sidelined from campaigning after the denial of the ticket. Raj Sinha also kept himself out after Dhulu’s allegation.
Dhulu opposes Raj Sinha’s candidature
In the political circle of the coal belt, it is being said that Dhulu Mahto, who has a direct approach to Home Minister Amit Shah, tried his best to stop Raj Sinha from getting a ticket 4th time. Dhulu Mahto, who began his political career under Babulal Marandi’s Jharkhand Vikash Morcha, also tried at the state level.
Raj Sinha has also the support of Rajnath Singh in Delhi’s political circle and the defence minister’s direct interference confirmed his ticket 4th time.
