New Delhi:
The five-phase Jharkhand elections began on November 25 and concluded on December 18. A total 1,511 candidates were in the poll fray and apart from the three alliances; over a dozen parties fought the elections including the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU).
Fate of the following heavyweights will be decided on Wednesday.
Geeta Koda: She is the wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, who is in jail on corruption charges. Geeta, who is contesting the election for the first time, has an additional responsibility of ensuring victory for other candidates fielded by Koda. She is contesting on Jharkhand Navnirman Morcha (JNM) ticket. Geeta has tried to create a sympathy wave terming her husband a victim of political conspiracy and showcasing his achievements to wrest the Jagannathpur (ST) seat, which Madhu Koda vacated after winning as an Independent MP from Singhbum earlier this year.
Gopal Krishna Patar: Raja Peter alias Gopal Krishna Patar was innews for defeating the then Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren in theby-election to Tamar assembly constituency early this year. It wasPeter's victory which forced Guruji to resign from his post paving wayfor President's Rule in the state. ThoughPeter was elected from Tamar as an MLA, he failed to attend anyassembly session as it was kept under suspended animation duringPresident's Rule. Soren was defeated by Gopal Krishan Patar of theJharkhand Party by over 9,000 votes.
In the last 11 monthsthe political scenario has changed. Raja Peter is now a JD-U nomineefrom this seat. Ramesh Singh Munda's son Vikas Munda is a nominee ofthe All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) from this constituency.
Sudesh Mahto: The All Jharkhand Student's Union president,Sudesh Mahto, has earned the distinction of entering the state assemblyat the young age of 25. He was the Home Minister of the state in thesecond phase of Arjun Munda's ministry. In addition to the portfolio ofHome, he was also looking after prisons, road construction, buildingconstruction, art and culture, youth affairs and sports. He attractedmedia's attention in June 2006 when he got constructed a 35 km road tohis would be wife's home before his marriage. He is seeking re-electionfrom Silli for the third time.
Stephen Marandi: The former deputy chief minister ofJharkhand is a Congress candidate from Dumka assembly constituency ofJharkhand. He is pitted against Hemant Soren, who is a Rajya Sabhamember and son of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren. Stephen was in the JMM till 2005. He revolted against the party andfought as an Independent in the 2005 assembly poll.
Kamlesh Singh: A former minister in Jharkhand Cabinet, Kamlesh Singh, was arrested on November 30 along with Madhu Koda on charges of holding assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He is contesting from Hussainabad assembly constituency. He had won the last elections by a slender margin of 35 votes from the same constituency.
Bhanu Pratap Sahi: Former minister Bhanu Pratap Sahi is also a prime accused in a corruption case along with Koda and Kamlesh Singh. He has been booked under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. The Jharkhand assembly Speaker in September had disqualified seven legislators for switching sides. Bhanu Pratap Sahi was one of them. He is seeking re-election from Bhawanathpur assembly constituency of Jharkhand.
Raghubar Das: The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief, Raghubar Das, is the party's candidate from Jamshedpur East. Raghubar, a former employee with Tata Steel, was the BJP MLA from same constituency and also the Urban Development Minister during the NDA government in the state. The state president of BJP has shown assets to the tune of around Rs 21 lakh.
Pradeep Yadav: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Godda assembly constituency of Jharkhand, Pradeep Yadav, had lost in the last assembly elections in 2005. Yadav, who contested on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), lost to Manohar Kumar Tekariwal of the BJP. However, he had successfully contested the 2000 elections on RJD ticket from the same constituency.
Dulal Bhuyian: The former Land and Revenue Minister in the Madhu Koda-led government in Jharkhand, Dulal Bhuyian, is a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate from Jugsalai. In the last assembly election, Dulal had defeated then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Haradhan Das by a narrow margin of over 3000 votes. However, in this election Haradhan has turned a rebel fighting as an Independent to spoil the prospects of official BJP nominee.
Thomas Handsa: Handsa, who was also the Jharkhand Congress chief for a substantial period of time, is the party's candidate from Rajmahal assembly constituency. Handsa has represented this constituency in past too.
Alamgir Alam: He is the Congress candidate from Pakur. Alam was Speaker of the Jharkhand assembly before it was dissolved.
Masi Charan Munda: Thirty-four-year old Munda is a jailed Maoist rebel facing 18 serious criminal cases including murder. Masi is a zonal commander of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI). He is contesting from Khuti assembly constituency of Jharkhand. The other key candidates in the fray from the same constituency are sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Neel Kanth Singh Munda and Rosan Surin of the Congress party. Rosan is the son of late Sushila Kerketta, who was Lok Sabha MP in 2004 and 2009. Rosan is the richest candidate of Jharkhand with assets worth Rs 24 crore.
Kundan Pahan: He is the self-styled zonal commander of the CPM. It was Pahan's group that abducted Special Branch Inspector Francis Induwar from Khuti in October and beheaded him. The nation was shocked when Induwar's decapitated body was found near Raida Ghati on the Ranchi-Jamshedpur National Highway. It was also his group that killed senior Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader and then legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in July 2008. It was this seat which necessitated the by-poll in which Soren was defeated.
State intelligence officials say that Pahan, just like Veerappan, the sandalwood smuggler and forest brigand who challenged three state governments for over two decades before being gunned down in 2004, is becoming notorious for his violent actions. Pahan has unleashed terror in Ranchi, Khuti and Jamshedpur districts, over a 50 sq km area of forests and hills where he rules the roost. More than 20 security personnel have been killed in the last 15 months in this area. This is the same area where Pahan's group hijacked an ICICI Bank delivery van in May last year and looted Rs.5 crore and two kg of gold. There are two other assembly constituencies where Pahan has a strong base -- Khuti and Silli.
Shailendra Mahto: Shailendra Mahto is an accused in the infamous JMM bribery case. He quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and then Janata Dal-United (JD-U). He is contesting on (JD-U) ticket against former minister Samresh Singh from Bokaro assembly seat. Singh is contesting from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantantrik (JVM-P) floated by former chief minister Babulal Marandi.
He fought the Lok Sabha elections this year as an All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) candidate from Jamshedpur. Samresh had fought the Lok sabha election on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket from Dhanbad and he is now a JVM-P nominee.
Nalin Soren: He is the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate from Shikaripara assembly constituency. Nalin is one of the six tainted ex-Cabinet colleagues of Koda in the poll fray. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against five ex ministers and Madhu Koda. Only Nalin Soren is an exception, against whom the ED did not file a case under PMLA.
Ravindra Rai: Rai is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Dhanwar assembly constituency. He is facing the charge of masterminding the killing of CPI-ML legislator Mahendra Singh, who was shot dead in adjoining Bagodar constituency while addressing an election meeting. It will not be a cakewalk for Rai, a sitting BJP MLA, in this constituency. Compounding the woes of Rai, who won the seat for the first time in the 2000 elections, is the presence of three of his own Bhumihar caste men in the fray.
Sudhir Mahto: Former deputy chief minister of Jharkhand Sudhir Mahto is the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominee from Eichagarh assembly constituency. He is the sitting MLA of Eichagarh and is in the fray to retain the seat. He is contesting against Sadhucharan Mahto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Arvind Singh of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik).
Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu: Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu is the Congress candidate from Ghatshila assembly constituency. Balmuchu, who is seeking re-election for the fourth time from this constituency, is engaged in a pitched battle with former MLA Surya Singh Besra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ramdas Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Anos Ekka: Former Jharkhand minister Anos Ekka is the JP candidate from Kolebira and Simdega assembly constituencies. Ekka is now in judicial custody on corruption charges. He has the distinction of being a minister in all the four cabinets of Jharkhand from 2005 to 2008.
Sukhdeo Bhagat: Bhagat is the Congress nominee from Lohardaga assembly constituency of Jharkhand. He has represented this constituency in last assembly elections too. He is in the fray along with Sadhnu Bhagat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Kamal Kishore Bhagat of AJSU.
Fate of the following heavyweights will be decided on Wednesday.
Geeta Koda: She is the wife of former chief minister Madhu Koda, who is in jail on corruption charges. Geeta, who is contesting the election for the first time, has an additional responsibility of ensuring victory for other candidates fielded by Koda. She is contesting on Jharkhand Navnirman Morcha (JNM) ticket. Geeta has tried to create a sympathy wave terming her husband a victim of political conspiracy and showcasing his achievements to wrest the Jagannathpur (ST) seat, which Madhu Koda vacated after winning as an Independent MP from Singhbum earlier this year.
Gopal Krishna Patar: Raja Peter alias Gopal Krishna Patar was innews for defeating the then Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren in theby-election to Tamar assembly constituency early this year. It wasPeter's victory which forced Guruji to resign from his post paving wayfor President's Rule in the state. ThoughPeter was elected from Tamar as an MLA, he failed to attend anyassembly session as it was kept under suspended animation duringPresident's Rule. Soren was defeated by Gopal Krishan Patar of theJharkhand Party by over 9,000 votes.
In the last 11 monthsthe political scenario has changed. Raja Peter is now a JD-U nomineefrom this seat. Ramesh Singh Munda's son Vikas Munda is a nominee ofthe All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) from this constituency.
Sudesh Mahto: The All Jharkhand Student's Union president,Sudesh Mahto, has earned the distinction of entering the state assemblyat the young age of 25. He was the Home Minister of the state in thesecond phase of Arjun Munda's ministry. In addition to the portfolio ofHome, he was also looking after prisons, road construction, buildingconstruction, art and culture, youth affairs and sports. He attractedmedia's attention in June 2006 when he got constructed a 35 km road tohis would be wife's home before his marriage. He is seeking re-electionfrom Silli for the third time.
Stephen Marandi: The former deputy chief minister ofJharkhand is a Congress candidate from Dumka assembly constituency ofJharkhand. He is pitted against Hemant Soren, who is a Rajya Sabhamember and son of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren. Stephen was in the JMM till 2005. He revolted against the party andfought as an Independent in the 2005 assembly poll.
Kamlesh Singh: A former minister in Jharkhand Cabinet, Kamlesh Singh, was arrested on November 30 along with Madhu Koda on charges of holding assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He is contesting from Hussainabad assembly constituency. He had won the last elections by a slender margin of 35 votes from the same constituency.
Bhanu Pratap Sahi: Former minister Bhanu Pratap Sahi is also a prime accused in a corruption case along with Koda and Kamlesh Singh. He has been booked under various sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. The Jharkhand assembly Speaker in September had disqualified seven legislators for switching sides. Bhanu Pratap Sahi was one of them. He is seeking re-election from Bhawanathpur assembly constituency of Jharkhand.
Raghubar Das: The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief, Raghubar Das, is the party's candidate from Jamshedpur East. Raghubar, a former employee with Tata Steel, was the BJP MLA from same constituency and also the Urban Development Minister during the NDA government in the state. The state president of BJP has shown assets to the tune of around Rs 21 lakh.
Pradeep Yadav: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Godda assembly constituency of Jharkhand, Pradeep Yadav, had lost in the last assembly elections in 2005. Yadav, who contested on a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), lost to Manohar Kumar Tekariwal of the BJP. However, he had successfully contested the 2000 elections on RJD ticket from the same constituency.
Dulal Bhuyian: The former Land and Revenue Minister in the Madhu Koda-led government in Jharkhand, Dulal Bhuyian, is a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate from Jugsalai. In the last assembly election, Dulal had defeated then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Haradhan Das by a narrow margin of over 3000 votes. However, in this election Haradhan has turned a rebel fighting as an Independent to spoil the prospects of official BJP nominee.
Thomas Handsa: Handsa, who was also the Jharkhand Congress chief for a substantial period of time, is the party's candidate from Rajmahal assembly constituency. Handsa has represented this constituency in past too.
Alamgir Alam: He is the Congress candidate from Pakur. Alam was Speaker of the Jharkhand assembly before it was dissolved.
Masi Charan Munda: Thirty-four-year old Munda is a jailed Maoist rebel facing 18 serious criminal cases including murder. Masi is a zonal commander of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI). He is contesting from Khuti assembly constituency of Jharkhand. The other key candidates in the fray from the same constituency are sitting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Neel Kanth Singh Munda and Rosan Surin of the Congress party. Rosan is the son of late Sushila Kerketta, who was Lok Sabha MP in 2004 and 2009. Rosan is the richest candidate of Jharkhand with assets worth Rs 24 crore.
Kundan Pahan: He is the self-styled zonal commander of the CPM. It was Pahan's group that abducted Special Branch Inspector Francis Induwar from Khuti in October and beheaded him. The nation was shocked when Induwar's decapitated body was found near Raida Ghati on the Ranchi-Jamshedpur National Highway. It was also his group that killed senior Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader and then legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in July 2008. It was this seat which necessitated the by-poll in which Soren was defeated.
State intelligence officials say that Pahan, just like Veerappan, the sandalwood smuggler and forest brigand who challenged three state governments for over two decades before being gunned down in 2004, is becoming notorious for his violent actions. Pahan has unleashed terror in Ranchi, Khuti and Jamshedpur districts, over a 50 sq km area of forests and hills where he rules the roost. More than 20 security personnel have been killed in the last 15 months in this area. This is the same area where Pahan's group hijacked an ICICI Bank delivery van in May last year and looted Rs.5 crore and two kg of gold. There are two other assembly constituencies where Pahan has a strong base -- Khuti and Silli.
Shailendra Mahto: Shailendra Mahto is an accused in the infamous JMM bribery case. He quit the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and then Janata Dal-United (JD-U). He is contesting on (JD-U) ticket against former minister Samresh Singh from Bokaro assembly seat. Singh is contesting from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantantrik (JVM-P) floated by former chief minister Babulal Marandi.
He fought the Lok Sabha elections this year as an All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) candidate from Jamshedpur. Samresh had fought the Lok sabha election on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket from Dhanbad and he is now a JVM-P nominee.
Nalin Soren: He is the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) candidate from Shikaripara assembly constituency. Nalin is one of the six tainted ex-Cabinet colleagues of Koda in the poll fray. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against five ex ministers and Madhu Koda. Only Nalin Soren is an exception, against whom the ED did not file a case under PMLA.
Ravindra Rai: Rai is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Dhanwar assembly constituency. He is facing the charge of masterminding the killing of CPI-ML legislator Mahendra Singh, who was shot dead in adjoining Bagodar constituency while addressing an election meeting. It will not be a cakewalk for Rai, a sitting BJP MLA, in this constituency. Compounding the woes of Rai, who won the seat for the first time in the 2000 elections, is the presence of three of his own Bhumihar caste men in the fray.
Sudhir Mahto: Former deputy chief minister of Jharkhand Sudhir Mahto is the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) nominee from Eichagarh assembly constituency. He is the sitting MLA of Eichagarh and is in the fray to retain the seat. He is contesting against Sadhucharan Mahto of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Arvind Singh of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik).
Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu: Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu is the Congress candidate from Ghatshila assembly constituency. Balmuchu, who is seeking re-election for the fourth time from this constituency, is engaged in a pitched battle with former MLA Surya Singh Besra of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ramdas Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
Anos Ekka: Former Jharkhand minister Anos Ekka is the JP candidate from Kolebira and Simdega assembly constituencies. Ekka is now in judicial custody on corruption charges. He has the distinction of being a minister in all the four cabinets of Jharkhand from 2005 to 2008.
Sukhdeo Bhagat: Bhagat is the Congress nominee from Lohardaga assembly constituency of Jharkhand. He has represented this constituency in last assembly elections too. He is in the fray along with Sadhnu Bhagat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Kamal Kishore Bhagat of AJSU.
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