RJD nominee from Jharia Abo Devi after filing her nomination in Dhanbad on Thursday. (Gautam Dey)

Dhanbad, Nov. 5: With Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Jharia Rehabilitation Development Authority expediting the process of evacuating people from the underground fire zone, rehabilitation is all set to become a key election issue in Jharia and Dhanbad, two key Assembly constituencies in the district.

This will probably be the last time Jharia and Dhanbad electorates — including those facing evacuation in Bhuli — will vote in its present composition as the face of the constituency is likely to change with the execution of the BCCL master plan.

In all, Dhanbad district has six Assembly constituencies, the other four being Sindri, Nirsa, Tundi and Baghmara.

Residents of Bhuli are meeting at B Block Durga Mandir on November 8 to discuss their poll choice. Of the 3.6 lakh voters in Dhanbad Assembly constituency, Bhuli and Azad Nagar account for 32,000.

“We have nothing to do with national issues. Nor are price rise or extremism relevant for us,” said Adi Nath Pandey, president of the Bhuli Vikash Morcha, which is spearheading a campaign to unite voters in Bhuli.

He said since the issue of evacuation was related to the very existence of residents, whichever political party took up the issue in the true sense would win their support.

“We are mobilising people from all sections on a common platform to decide on an unanimous choice ahead of the elections,” said Pandey.

In Jharia, the Jharia Coal Field Bacho Samiti is playing a key role in shaping the people’s choice. “The people of Jharia would have to make a well thought out choice and should avoid regional parties who have no role to play in deciding the fate of the township,” said the samiti’s acting secretary, Madan Lal Khanna.

BJP candidate from Dhanbad Raj Sinha said his party would ensure that the people got their due as per the state’s rehabilitation policy. “The party would not allow any displacement without alternative arrangements for the people,” he added.

On Bhuli, he said the BJP was against shifting its residents in order to accommodate those from the fire zone.