Ranchi, Nov. 2: The JMM today released its first list of candidates for 28 Assembly seats comprising a mix of sitting MLAs, fresh names and veterans, including tainted Jama legislator Sita Soren, party stalwart Sudhir Mahto’s widow Sabita and defector MLAs Chamra Linda (Trinamul), Harinarayan Rai (Independent) and Nizamuddin Ansari (JVM) who switched to the Shibu Soren camp.

“The JMM will contest all 81 seats. We have released the first list of candidates. Our party will emerge stronger in these Assembly elections,” chief minister Hemant Soren told the media today.

But, Hemant, who represents the Dumka seat, will announce his candidature later, party authorities said.

Though the JMM gave Hemant’s bhabhi Sita the ticket for Jama despite her controversial image, it nixed speculations regarding his younger brother Basant. Party general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said: “Guruji (read JMM chief Shibu Soren) is of the view that Basant has more roles to perform in strengthening the organisation rather than fighting the elections.”

However, the party did not forget to compensate for Sabita’s humiliation last year. Despite calling Sabita for elections for Rajya Sabha, the party had to bow to coalition compulsions and ultimately back RJD candidate Prem Chand Gupta. Now, Sabita has been given a ticket from Ichagarh.

Linda, who switched from Trinamul to join the JMM today, is the sitting MLA for Bishunpur who got the ticket for the same seat. MLA Harinarayan Rai from Jarmundi and Nizamuddin Ansari of Dharwar, who joined the JMM recently, also got tickets.

Former JVM leader Krishna Gagrai who gave BJP’s Arjun Munda a tough fight in the Kharsawan by-poll also got a ticket. Other new faces in the JMM camp include Bhushan Tirkey (Gumla), Sukhdeo Oraon (Lohardaga), Lal Suraj Singh (Panki), Mithilesh Kumar Thakur alias Munnu Thakur (Garhwa). Also, there are veterans who are looking to resurrect their political careers with the JMM — Niral Purty, Joba Manjhi and Niel Tirkey (Majhgaon, Manoharpur and Simdega, respectively).

Jama’s Sita Soren apart, sitting MLAs who got tickets Ramdas Soren (Ghatshila), Champai Soren (Seraikela), Deepak Birua (Chaibasa), Paulus Surin (Torpa), Lobin Hembrom (Borio), Aqueel Akhtar (Pakur), Nalin Soren (Shikaripara), Bishnu Prasad Bhaiya (Jamtara), Haji Hussain Ansari (Madhupur), Shashank Shekhar Bhokta (Sarath), Jaiprakash Bhai Patel (Mandu), Jagannath Mahto (Dumri) and Mathura Mahto (Tundi).

Veteran JMM leaders Salkhan Soren (Gandey) and Ravindra Nath Mahto (Nala), though not in power, also got a chance.

The names were finalised after protracted discussions, party sources said.

Nominations for first phase of polls on November 25 would end on November 5. The process of filing papers for second phase would start from November 7 and end on November 14.

Polls will be held on November 25, and December 2, 9, 14 and 20. Counting will take place on December 23.

In first phase, Chatra, Gumla, Bishunpur, Lohardaga, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa and Bhawanathpur will go to polls. In the second phase, polls will take place in Baharagora, Ghatshila, Potka, Jugsalai, Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West, Seraikela, Chaibasa, Majhgaon, Jaganathpur, Manoharpur, Chakradharpur, Kharsawan, Tamar, Torpa, Khunti, Mandar, Sisai, Simdega and Kolebira.