Ranchi/Jamshedpur, April 24: Campaigning ended this evening in eight Lok Sabha constituencies of the state, where polling will be held on Monday. Candidates put up last-minute shows of strengths and went on a public relation overdrive.
A red alert has been sounded to avert untoward incidents. To ensure free and fair polls, “shoot- at-sight” orders have been clamped. Polling will be held in Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardagga, Jamshedpur, Singhbhum, Godda, Dumka and Rajmahal constituencies on April 26.
Barring Dumka and Rajmahal, all other seats are held by BJP. The Dumka seat was won by BJP in 1999, but JMM chief Sibu Soren later wrested it from Babulal Marandi in a byelection in 2001. Deputy chief electoral officer Dudheshwar Prasad said polling would be held in 9,313 booths spread over eight constituencies, of which 4,235 booths are sensitive and 1,789 booths are super-sensitive. Polling parties have been dispatched. The MCC and PW have once again called a bandh.
Rallies were taken out by BJP, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Shiv Sena candidates. The processions passed through different localities of the constituency with the supporters of different parties chanting slogans and the candidates in question waving and making rehearsed promises.
Shiv Sena candidate Yogendra Sharma was the first to take out a rally of over 1,500 supporters on motorcyles and four-wheelers. The party workers chanted slogans of emphatic victory over BJP candidate Abha Mahto.
Sitting in an open Gypsy with his supporters, Sharma started the day’s campaign from Aambagan. Folding his hands he gave a benign smile and requested the people to vote for him in the interest of the non-tribals. “Shiv Sena will ensure that the domicile policy, which drove a wedge between the tribals and non-tribals is scrapped,” said Sharma.
The JMM candidate before starting the rally from Aambagam spent some time at a roundabout near Tata Steel Town Division office with passers-by. From there he went to Ambagan and instead of travelling in a four-wheeler like his rival candidates, he rode pillion on a motorcyle. He was followed by 2,000 party workers on motorbikes and four-wheelers.
BJP candidate Abha Mahato, along with Icchagarh legislator Arvind Singh also took out a massive rally from G-Town ground that passed through different parts of the constituency. Mahto and Singh requested the people to vote for the BJP. “The NDA government is determined to work for the uplift of society and generate more employment. This is only possible if the party candidate is voted to power,” party workers said.
Senior police officials apprehend strikes by the rebels in Jamshedpur and Singhbhum constituencies. “The rebels are determined to avenge the Longo incident. They may not succeed in the particular village, but they will try to prove their point somewhere else. The Baliba incident has given them a moral boost,” said a senior special branch officer.
He felt that frustrated by the failure of the bandh call on April 20, the rebels may strike hard at places, where elections will be held on Monday. As a large number of policemen have been sent to other districts, where elections will be held on Monday, the challenges are tough for the police superintendents of those districts, where elections are over.
The home department has intensified air surveillance in the sensitive areas. Inspector-general (operations) R.C. Kaithal said 96 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed to maintain order. That apart, the Jharkhand Armed police, the district police and homeguard jawans have also been pressed into service.
Chief electoral officer A.K. Pandey said preparations needed for the conduct of peaceful election have been completed. He also said the police have been asked to open fire, if they find people assembling with arms and ammunitions or disturbing the poll.
