BJP names Madhav Lal Singh from Gomia

Putting any possibility of reconciliation with its coalition partner and long time ally AJSU, the ruling BJP on Sunday officially confirmed candidature of Madhav Lal Singh from Gomia constituency. The Assembly seat along with Silli is going for bypoll on May 28 to fill the vacancy arisen midterm.

Name of Madhav Lal Singh was doing rounds for several days and looked sure when the former Congress legislator who represented the seat in the past before donning the saffron outfit in 2014 met Chief Minister Raghubar Das on the last Friday.

“The BJP has always given developmental agenda the front seat. We received a stamp of the people with their affection during the recently concluded municipal polls. We would go with the same spirit in the bypolls at Gomia and also at Silli. The party has decided that Madhav Lal Singh would contest the election from Gomia,” said party MLA and State general secretary Anant Kumar Ojha on Sunday calling a press conference.

The decision to field candidate from Gomia is perceived akin to infighting involving the BJP with its partner AJSU. The latter has already named Lambodar Mahto its candidate. “We still believe in coalition. Our top leadership is of the view that both of us should fight the seat which we had fought during 2014 under seat sharing formula,” added Ojha when asked about health of the coalition.

During 2014 Assembly elections, the Gomia seat had fallen into BJP’s kitty while AJSU had fielded Sudesh Mahto from Silli. Moreover the coalition had lost both the seats while JMM emerging victorious at both the places. Unfortunately for the JMM, both MLAs namely Yogendra Mahto and Amit Mahto faced disqualification after conviction. JMM this time went on fielding wives of the ousted legislators from the seats.

Also present on the occasion was senior leader Deepak Prakash who reiterated that health of the coalition would not be affected with both the parties fighting against each other. “AJSU is our oldest ally in the State. We have fought together for a separate State and have been in coalition for the development and wellbeing of the State. Out coalition has not broken neither would be broken. These phases come in the course of any coalition. It is good that no irresponsible comments are being made from any side as far as the by-election is concerned,” he said.

The party also expressed hope that after the name is announced all BJP workers would work together to secure win of the candidate. “Things have settled now. The party is in winning position with the contribution and hard work of the workers.

The Opposition coming together just for the sake of stopping development agenda of the Government would not work in the election,” added Ojha. The BJP has left Silli seat for the AJSU and supported Sudesh Mahto.