SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 15: The upcoming assembly elections in Dhanbad have put the prestige of central trade unions on the line, with several union leaders contesting from different political parties and on various seats.
Barring the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), members from all other major central trade unions—including the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Central Industrial Trade Union (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)—are contesting the election.
Controversy on Jharia seat
The Jharia assembly seat has become a battleground for two key rival candidates, both affiliated with the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS).
Ragni Singh, leader of Janta Shramik Sangh, is contesting on a BJP ticket, while her main opponent, the sitting MLA Purnima Neeraj Singh, affiliated with Janta Mazdoor Sangh, is standing as a Congress candidate.
Despite both unions being aligned with HMS, they are supporting different political parties in this high-stakes contest.
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Key contests in Nirsa and Baghmara
In the Nirsa seat, the competition is primarily between leaders from HMS and CITU. Arup Chatterjee of Bihar Colliery Karmchari Union, affiliated with CITU, is contesting on a CPI(ML) ticket, while Aparna Sengupta of Janta Shramik Sangh, affiliated with HMS, is running on a BJP ticket.
Another contender in this race is Ashok Mandal, a member of the Jharkhand Colliery Kamgar Union, who switched allegiance from JMM to the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) just before the elections.
On the Baghmara seat, two prominent union leaders are facing off on national party tickets. Congress candidate Jaleshwer Mahto, representing the Kolliery Mazdoor Union, has no affiliation with any central trade union, while BJP candidate Shatrughan Mahto, affiliated with the United Coal Workers Union of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), will be vying for the seat.
Jaleshwer Mahto’s union is not affiliated with any central trade union. Although he is a Congress candidate, he has no connection with INTUC.
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Union influence on other key seats
JMM’s Tundi candidate, Mathura Prasad Mahto, is a member of the Bihar Colliery Kamgar Union (BCKU), which is affiliated with CITU. However, his party, JMM, is associated with the Jharkhand Colliery Kamgar Union.
In Sindri, CPI(ML) candidate Babloo Mahto, also a member of BCKU, will face BJP’s Tara Devi, who is not aligned with any union.
In the Dhanbad Sadar seat, Congress candidate Ajay Dubey, a veteran leader of the Rashtriya Colliery Mazdoor Union (RCMU) affiliated with INTUC, will be challenged by BJP’s Raj Sinha, who has no association with trade union politics in the region.
Trade union influence to be tested
With multiple union leaders entering the electoral fray, the Dhanbad elections are shaping up to be a critical contest that will test the influence of central trade unions in the region.
The unions’ power dynamics could play a significant role in determining the outcome of these key assembly seats.
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