Jharkhand JD(U) to ask 6 LS seats from BJP

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, November 21, 2008

Janta Dal United would lay claim over at least six parliamentary constituencies in Jharkhand for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.

It is likely to be discussed in the meeting of its working committee scheduled to be held on Friday in Ranchi. It is despite the fact NDA faced fiasco in Jharkhand in the last general elections, when both the parties fought elections separately JD(U) is learnt to have made up its mind to contest elections. It would be decided by the central leadership of NDA after assembly elections in five states.

Even though the State BJP has made its intention known to contest all the parliamentary seats leaving no constituency for JDU, it would claim for that, the sources in the party said. The party is likely to claim over Dhanbad, Giridiha, Chatra, Palamu, Khunti and Godda where it wants to field its candidates during the forthcoming general elections.

One should remember the seat sharing exercise between BJP and JDU during the last general elections when BJP declined to leave seats for JDU. It led to a friendly contest between BJP and JDU in six five parliamentary constituencies including Giridiha, Chatra, Palamu, Godda and Khunti. Well-placed sources in the party said: "JDU would at least stake claim over Dhanbad and Chatra even knowing in advance that big brother, BJP would hardly entertain the claim."

Mahto might six out of 13 constituencies in Jharkhand there are the voices within the party which find fault stating that with five MLAs in the State Assembly including Ramesh singh Munda who died this year the claim holds little water.

Mahto is more interested in Dhanbad as he has been nourishing a political ambition to enter into the corridor of Parliament as an MP besides Chatra the party hopes to field the erstwhile party MLA and stalwart Indersingh Namdhari. Namdhari is also in the wish list of BJP- the party also mulling to adopt him party fold.

As far as the claim of the party for Giridiha constituency is concerned it has still to find a suitable candidate to take on Teklal Mahto of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. The working meet is slated to discuss the strategy of the party during the elections and might take some major decisions to strengthen the party.