Ranchi, October 18 (IANS). With the announcement of elections in Jharkhand, the process of defection of leaders has intensified. On Friday, Kedar Hazra, BJP MLA from Jamua seat in Giridih district and Umakant Rajak, former AJSU MLA from Chandankiyari area of Bokaro district, joined Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
Chief Minister and JMM working president Hemant Soren and MLA Kalpana Soren welcomed both of them by wearing them with the party’s election symbol. It is believed that JMM will field both of them as candidates from their traditional seats.
After these leaders joined the party, Chief Minister Hemant Soren wrote on social media platform ‘
Kedar Hazra has been MLA from Jamua seat thrice on BJP ticket. This time, based on the anti-incumbency report in the internal survey conducted by the party, it was considered certain that his ticket would be cut.
Manju Kumari, who stood second as the Congress candidate in the last assembly elections on Jamua seat, and her father, former MLA Shukar Ravidas, took membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party this week.
Jharkhand BJP’s election co-in-charge and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while inducting her into the party, had indicated that the party will make Manju Kumari a candidate from Jamua seat. Former Chandankiyari MLA Umakant Rajak, who joined JMM, was also a contender for the ticket from AJSU. When it was decided that Chandankiyari seat would go to BJP’s account in the seat distribution between BJP-AJSU alliance, he resigned from AJSU on Thursday evening and joined Jharkhand Mukti Morcha on Friday.
After joining Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Umakant Rajak has said that he has worked as a small soldier of Guruji Shibu Soren. Hemant Soren has become the voice of the entire Jharkhand state. I will stand shoulder to shoulder to strengthen Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
–IANS
SNC/ABM