RANCHI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has extended its support to Saryu Rai, former BJP leader and minister, who recently joined the Congress party, and demanded that the Congress field him from the Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming elections.
JMM’s senior leader and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, while addressing a press conference in Ranchi, said that his party supports Saryu Rai’s candidature from the Dhanbad seat. He further stated that the Congress should seriously consider giving the ticket to Saryu Rai, as it would benefit the grand alliance in the state.
Soren expressed his confidence that the grand alliance will win the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand. He further stated that the alliance is working together to ensure the defeat of the BJP in the state.
Saryu Rai, who was a minister in the Raghubar Das government, joined the Congress party in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, former Congress president, in New Delhi on March 12. Rai had earlier expressed his desire to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Dhanbad seat, which is currently held by the BJP.
The Congress party is yet to announce its candidate for the Dhanbad seat. The Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand are scheduled to be held in four phases, starting from April 29.
It is worth noting that Saryu Rai was a prominent leader of the BJP in Jharkhand and held the position of minister in the Raghubar Das government. His decision to join the Congress party has come as a setback to the BJP, which is trying to retain power in the state.
The grand alliance, which comprises of the Congress, JMM, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is hoping to put up a strong fight against the BJP in Jharkhand. The alliance has already announced its candidates for three out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
The support extended by the JMM to Saryu Rai is being seen as a significant development in the state’s political scenario. It remains to be seen whether the Congress will heed to the demand of the JMM and field Saryu Rai from the Dhanbad seat.
