BJP’s Ram Chander Baitha campaigns at Hochar in Kanke. (Manik Bose)

Ranchi, Nov. 22: With 20 candidates in fray and the sitting MLA facing anti-incumbency wave, Kanke constituency is set to witness an unpredictable polling pattern.

However, the main fight is between BJP’s Ram Chander Baitha, Congress candidate Suresh Baitha and JMM’s Samri Lal. Though Ram Chander Baitha, who is seeking re-election from the constituency for the second time, is going around the villages, personally meeting the residents and requesting them to send him back to the Assembly, the voters appear little convinced.

Baitha has toured villages such as Borea, Sangrampur, Murum, Hosir, Hundur, Banhara, Budmu, Sukurhutu and the like. He claimed he had done a “lot” for his people and was hopeful that the voters would give him another chance.

“I have constructed roads, culverts and community halls,” said the BJP leader, pointing to a poorly constructed community hall in Hochar village under Kanke block, about 30km from the state capital.

The villagers disagree. They said they had been left to fend for themselves all these years. “Had our needs been addressed, our economic situation would have improved,” said Raju Sahu, a resident of Hochar. The villagers want irrigation facilities in their fields.

Kanke is the main vegetable-producing region as the region has fertile soil. But the state has done precious little for the good of the farmers in nine years.

On the other hand, Suresh Baitha is a political greenhorn while Samri Lal is contesting from Kanke for the sixth time. Although Lal lost in all the previous polls, he has not lost patience. This time, he is confident of victory.

“I have been working in the area for the past 25 years. People know me by face and I am with them whenever they require me,” said 46-year old Lal.

In comparison, residents of remote villages have not even heard Suresh’s name although several star campaigners, including Rahul Gandhi, have campaigned for him.

“He is yet to come to our village,” said Sankar Mahto, a farmer of Roll village.