Dumka, Feb. 21: The age-old Maghi Mela on the occasion of Maghi Purnima turned to be a political battle field today on the banks of Ganga at Rajmahal.

Political heavyweights, who reached at the river bank, around 167km from the Dumka divisional headquarters, to take a dip in the holy river on Maghi Purnima started levelling allegations and counter-allegations at each other. However, due to the model code of conduct, which was in force for the forthcoming civic body polls, the leaders, particularly those belonging to JMM, were helpless in not making promises to woo the masses.

Shibu Soren and his party ministers flew down to the place from Ranchi in a state government helicopter. While leaders of the rival camp, like former chief minister, Arjun Munda, who drove down from Barharwah railway station, lambasted the state government for lack of proper arrangement. came on road from Barharwah railway station.

The two leaders addressed the masses from two separate stages. The mela ground was decked up with party flags, festoons and banners of both BJP and JMM.

Soren told the crowd that that JMM candidates would clinch a majority in the civic body polls.

Munda on the other hand lambasted the government for making false promises.