PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Feb 4: The final day of nominations for the Jharkhand Urban Local Body Elections 2026 witnessed an electrifying political atmosphere in Jamshedpur on Wednesday, with the Mango Municipal Corporation emerging as the epicentre of intense activity.
From the District Collectorate in Sakchi to Swarnarekha Bhawan on Dimna Road, massive crowds, drumbeats and slogan-shouting supporters transformed the civic exercise into what many described as a “mini Assembly election.”
As the deadline drew closer, candidates and their supporters thronged nomination venues, creating a festive yet charged environment. The large public turnout underlined the high political stakes involved in both mayoral and ward-level contests.
NDA Show of Strength as Sandhya Singh Files Nomination
The political temperature rose sharply in the afternoon when Sandhya Singh, the BJP-backed candidate and wife of senior leader Neeraj Singh, filed her nomination for the Mayor’s post in Mango.
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Her arrival turned the Collectorate premises into a sea of supporters, marking one of the strongest power displays of the day. Unity within the NDA alliance was clearly visible, with leaders and workers from the BJP, JD(U), AJSU and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) rallying together.
After local MLA Saryu Roy formally declared Sandhya Singh as the NDA’s official candidate, a procession moved ahead amid floral showers and victory slogans, highlighting the alliance’s organisational strength.
Multi-Cornered Contest Takes Shape
The mayoral race became more competitive with the nomination of Dr Vinita Sahay, a well-known medical professional. Her entry is expected to appeal to educated and middle-class voters, adding an issue-based dimension to the contest.
Another candidate, Raimond Sundi, also filed his nomination, indicating that the battle for Mango’s top civic post will go beyond traditional political players and include prominent social figures.
Festive Scenes Amid Tight Security
Since early morning, the Collectorate campus remained abuzz with activity as candidates, garlanded and accompanied by supporters carrying party flags and musical bands, lined up to complete nomination formalities.
Several party-backed and independent candidates also entered the fray for ward councillor seats. Given the unprecedented rush, the administration deployed tight security arrangements and worked to manage crowds while ensuring a smooth nomination process.
Focus Shifts to Scrutiny and Electoral Battle
With the nomination process concluding on Wednesday, the civic poll battle in Mango has formally begun.
While Sudha Gupta, backed by the Congress-led alliance, prepares to defend her political ground, NDA candidate Sandhya Singh moves forward with the support of a united alliance.
The next key stage will be the scrutiny of nomination papers on February 5, after which the final list of candidates will be released. Only then will the full contours of this high-stakes civic contest in Jamshedpur become clear.