BJP names Samir Oraon, Pradeep Santhalia for RS poll

Putting an end to all speculations, the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) once again has decided to field two candidates for the both Rajya Sabha (RS) seats slated to go under poll on March 23 in Jharkhand. The decision was taken during a legislative party meeting held at official residence of Chief Minister Raghubar Das late in the evening on Sunday.

Following the meeting list of candidates formally sent to the party’s Central Election Committee which got approved naming State Vice President Samir Oraon and noted businessman from Dhanbad Pradeep Santhalia as the party nominees.

“A decision over fielding two candidates for the RS elections was taken during the Legislative Party meeting held in presence of Chief Minister Raghubar Das, State BJP Chief Laxman Gilua and Organizational General Secretary Dharmpal Ji,” said Party’s Chief Whip Radha Krishna Kishore on Sunday evening.

“Let me assure you that both the candidates from our sides will be the sons of the soil as we have made recommendations for only local persons for the purpose,” said the Chief Whip who refrained from disclosing the names in the press conference.

When asked about the NDAs strategy to win over both seats, Kishore said that their votes for the second preferential candidate was more than the Oppositions and hence they were quite assure of victory of both the candidates. “Last time also in 2016 RS polls, we won over both seats then where the doubt in it,” he said.

Kishore further said that the two candidates along with the party MLAs will march towards Vidhan Sabha from Chief Minsiter’s Dhurwa residence at 10 am to file their nominations on Monday.

In the 81-member Assembly, the ruling BJP and AJSU have together 47 legislators. NDA can win one seat comfortably but will have to seek support from Opposition party MLAs if it wants to win on the second seat. Remarkably, Bhawnathpur MLA of Navjawan Sangharsha Morcha Bhanu Pratap Shahi was also present during the meeting.

Opposition on the other hand stamped on the name of Dheeraj Sahu, a party loyalist and old timers in the Upper House. His name was doing rounds since the beginning and after getting consent of allies in the Opposition camp comprising JMM, JVM and the Left members, he has been finalised to be Congress’ nominee.

“We after taking all our allies into confidence have cleared the name of Dheerah Prasad Sahu for one seat of Rajya Sabha. He would file his nomination papers on Monday,” said Congress Legislative Party leader Alamgir Alam after he chaired a formal meeting of party MLAs to announce the nominee.

The name has been finalised following the party striking a deal with main Opposition party JMM having 18 members in the House with presently 80 MLAs. If things go as per calculations, the Opposition is sure to bag one seat out of the two on offer. Adding JMM with Congress’ seven, JVM’s two and at least two from Marxist Coordination and Raj Kumar Yadav of CPI (ML), Sahu is set to reach home since only 27 votes are needed to win a seat. Moreover the numbers were similar last time as well when ruling BJP managed to snatch both the seat in 2016.          

“We are aware of the incident last time and would keep a close eye on the members in our side. We would ensure that all the votes in our kitty should come to the Congress’ candidate,” added Alam. The Congress has formed an alliance with JMM, which the party stressed, would continue beyond Rajya Sabha elections and declared that it would contest next Assembly elections in the State in the leadership of Hemant Soren.