SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, March 28: The electorates will be curious to know the reasons the BJP, billed to be a party with a difference, explains for picking up coal belt don Dhulu Mahto after he files his nomination as a candidate from the prestigious Lok Sabha seat of Dhanbad.
Dhulu faces 33 criminal cases
Currently facing as many as 33 criminal cases, the BJP has fielded Mahto to rule Dhanbad, which was earlier known as a bastion of Rajput coal mafias.
These cases are related to attempts to murder, arms
and explosive Acts violations, assaulting government officials, and theft,
among others.
Besides, the Jharkhand High Court also ordered a probe into his assets, which the Income tax and the ED have put on the back burner.
Mahto has also been convicted in several cases. However, the sentence term in all these cases was less than two years, which did not make Mahto ineligible for contesting elections.
He has replaced three-term MP Pashupati Nath Singh. Soft-spoken and popular among electorates, Singh has been reportedly denied a ticket this time due to his age.
SC on why parties chose a candidate with a criminal history
Notably, after a Supreme Court judgement delivered in 2020, it is mandatory for political parties nominating candidates with a criminal background to provide a rationale for their selection.
Also Read: Jharkhand Elections: CPI trade union leader as BJP nominee in Dhanbad upsets BMS
“The parties giving tickets to such tainted candidates must explain why they chose them over other, more deserving claimants. They have to clearly state the basis for selecting a candidate with a criminal background,” Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said recently while launching the “Know Your Candidate” App.
The Lok Sabha election will be held in Dhanbad on May 25.
Besides, political parties must publish details of candidates with criminal backgrounds on their websites, social media, and newspapers.
Such details must be published within 48 hours of filing the nomination in one local newspaper, national newspaper, and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.
The parties must file a compliance report within 72 hours, and contempt charges will be pressed against them if they fail to follow this.
BJP defends Dhulu Mahto
BJP state president Babulal Marandi played it down. “Politicians ke khilaf to case rahta hi hai (There is always a case against the politicians),” he maintained.
Mahto represents Baghmara
Mahto has represented Baghmara, an assembly constituency under the Giridih Lok Sabha seat, since 2009. From 2009 to 2014, he represented the constituency as a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) MLA, then led by Babulal Marandi. He joined the BJP in 2014 and retained the seat.
Rise of Dhulu Mahto
Mahto’s rise has been spectacular. After completing his Intermediate in 1994, he joined the Sinidih
Colliery of Bharat Coking Coal Limited as a labourer. Soon, he became the
leader of the labourers who loaded the railway wagons and trucks at the
colliery.
In early 2000, Samresh Singh, a minister in the Rabri Devi government in Bihar and then in Jharkhand,
recognised Mahto’s ‘potential’ and made him head of the Tiger Force, a group
which Singh had formed to collect ‘tax’ from the coal belt.
Seven criminal cases were registered against Mahto during his stint as the Tiger Force chief.
According to sources, Mahto controls Jogidih, Muraidih, Benidih, and the Nadkharchi mines, which the BCCL owns.
He allegedly takes a considerable quantity of coal at the floor price and sells it to companies
belonging to his close aides. His supporters collect tolls from heavy vehicles at several centres in Dhanbad.
