|
|
Rama Khalkho after filing her nomination paper in Ranchi on Monday. Picture by Prashant Mitra
|
Anti-incumbency or otherwise is Rama Khalkho’s only worry.
The lady, who served as mayor of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC), submitted her candidature for the same post on Monday, the penultimate day for filing nominations for the civic polls, with seven others. The civic poll will be held on April 7.
Hinoo resident Khalkho, who recently joined the Congress, also declared her assets. According to her, she has a bank balance of Rs 9, 15,977 and immovable property including house and shop worth Rs 57.5 lakh. Her husband has a bank balance of Rs 1, 82,448 lakh and immovable property worth Rs 3 lakh. Khalkho and her husband have bank loans of Rs 26 lakh and Rs 5.89 lakh.
She also has a pending case since 2003 with the chief judicial magistrate for allegedly causing disruption while crusading for tribals in Dhurwa.
“I’ve worked honestly in the first term, and if given an opportunity again, I will prove myself,” Khalkho said while filing her nomination papers.
The other prominent aspirant to the mayor’s chair who filed his nomination on Monday is Ratan Tirkey. Tirkey, an XISS alumnus, is a tribal crusader and freelance journalist.
The resident of Peace Road, Lalpur, Tirkey declared his and his wife’s bank balance — Rs 35,000 and Rs 36,500. He also declared immovable property worth Rs 84 lakh and bank loan of Rs 4 lakh. There are two criminal cases pending against him in the court of chief judicial magistrate.
Tirkey, an adviser of All Jharkhand Students’ Union between 1987 and 1993, took part in key talks before Jharkhand’s creation in 2000. He was also private secretary of departments of finance, animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development when Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council was constituted in 1995.
“I will make Ranchi an ideal city where people can breathe fresh air, drink fresh water, commute freely and get quality health services and sports facilities,” he said.
That’s a whole bunch of promises.
Others mayoral aspirants include Chintamani Tirkey, Arun John Prabal, Lokesh Khalkho, Varsha Gari, Shivshanker Kachhap and Ajay Tirkey. Returning officer for mayoral election R.S. Verma said it was a hectic Monday. “We were busy verifying documents,” he said.
Till 3pm, over 30 candidates also filed papers for the posts of ward councillors. Tuesday is the last day to file papers, which will be scrutinised on Wednesday. If a candidate develops cold feet, he or she can withdraw on Thursday, while symbols will be allotted on Friday.
Will Khalkho return or do you sniff anti-incumbency in the air? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
|
