New Delhi: The BJP released its first list of 66 candidates for the Jharkhand assembly elections on Saturday, fielding party president Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar and former chief minister Champai Soren from Saraikella.
The party named Sita Soren, the sister-in-law of JMM leader and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, as its nominee from Jamtara.
The list also lists Geeta Koda and former Union minister Sudarshan Bhagat.
The BJP is contesting on 68 of the 81 assembly seats in the state, leaving the rest for its allies.
The party is looking to topple the JMM-Congress alliance from power in the two-phase polls scheduled for November 13 and 20.
The former aide of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Champai, quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and joined the BJP in August.
Sita Soren, sister-in-law of Hemant Soren, will be contesting from Jamtara.
“The decision taken by the party is a good decision. In the coming elections, BJP’s performance will be the best and our government will be formed. We are fully prepared,” said Champai Soren.
Among other candidates are Geeta Koda from Jaganathpur and former union minister Sudarshan Bhagat, who are contesting from Gumla and Meera Munda from the Potka constituency.
BJP on Friday announced that its candidates will be contesting in 68 seats.
The Jharkhand assembly elections are set to be held in two phases- Nov 13 and Nov 20.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday announced that INDIA bloc partners will contest 70 of the 81 seats for the upcoming assembly polls.
“It has been decided during the seat-sharing talks with the allies that the Congress and the JMM will field candidates in 70 of 81 seats,” said Soren.
Also, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has expressed disappointment over the decision and termed it as “unilateral”. RJD spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha said that they were not consulted before announcing the seats.
RJD has identified at least 15 to 18 seats in Jharkhand where it has the potential to defeat the BJP on its own.
The filing of nomination papers for 43 assembly constituencies of Jharkhand, going to polls in the first phase, will continue till October 25.
In 2019, the JMM-led alliance won 47 seats in the Jharkhand assembly, including 30 of JMM and 16 of the Congress. While BJP secured 25 seats.
