THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, April 4: The JMM, fed up with Congress’ delay in formally announcing the seat-sharing formula for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, announced two candidates.
The tribal party chose to field its old warhorse, seven-term MLA Nalin Soren, against Sita Soren, the eldest daughter-in-law of JMM chief Shibu Soren.
Nalin Soren is an MLA from Shikaripara, under the Dumka Lok Sabha seat.
The party strategists had earlier considered fielding jailed former Chief Minister Hemant Soren but changed their strategy after Sita Soren joined the BJP. They saw this as a trap laid by the BJP to turn the battle between ‘Devar’ and ‘Bhabhi’ into a war for the legacy of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren.
Mathura Mahto to contest Giridih
Again, the JMM has fielded another party, old-timer Mathura Mahto, from Giridih, a seat contested by the AJSU party.
Notably, CM Champai Soren and Basant Soren met former Chief Minister Hemant Soren in jail, after which it was decided that Nalin Soren and Mathura Mahato would be the candidates from Dumka and Giridih. Voting will be held in Giridih on May 25 and Dumka on June 1.
Congress to hold meet on April 6
Meanwhile, the INDI Alliance seat formula is likely to be declared after the Congress’s meeting on April 6.
