Jagannathpur member of legislative assembly (MLA) Geeta Koda filed nomination paper as Indian National Congress (INC) candidate from Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat on Saturday in presence of senior party leaders.

Speaking to media after filing nominations, Geeta Koda alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) MP from Singhbhum, Laxman Gilua, did nothing for the constituency. He did not fulfill promises made in the last election and people have decided to vote him out, she added.

“Congress will win the seat as the BJP-led State and Union government did nothing in academic, economic, health, development as well as welfare field. The government is opening liquor shops and closing schools in remote villages,” said Koda, who was flanked by her husband and former chief minister Madhu Koda for her nominations.

State Congress president Dr Ajoy Kumar, former speaker of Jharkhand assembly Alamgir Alam and Rajya Sabha Member Pradip Balmochu were also present.

Koda denied differences among grand alliance partners in Singhbhum. She said that Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislators were with her and they would ensure victory to the Congress. She said she has blessings of JMM president Sibu Soren and former CM Hemant Soren.

“Only Congress could ensure development in Singhbhum as her husband did it during his CM term for around two years and representing it in the Lok Sabha for one term. Public representatives of other political parties could not do so during six decades. She would go for progressive and prosperous Singhbhum,” Koda said.

State Congress president, Dr Ajoy Kumar said that 60 percent population of Singhbhum would no longer be poor after his party’s victory. Their economic status would get improved to middle class families with the help of Nyay Yojna of the Congress that provides Rs 72,000 annual to each of poor families in the country.

“Around 60 percent of Singhbhum population lives under acute poverty. Congress has announced to give Rs 6,000 per month to such families once form government at the Centre. Singhbhum residents will spend the amount in education, health and other needs of their life”, Kumar said.

Charging the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for misusing the security forces the Congress president said that he has been committing ‘sedition’. If security forces with the PM would be used for moving cash from one place to another, who would check them, he added.

Congress charged that PM was traveling with cash in a box, under air force personnel security.

Kumar added that an IAS officer faced action as he had tried to check PM’s helicopter but another office was exempted from it when he checked Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnayak’s helicopter.

He said that JMM legislators would be convinced and their grievances would be solved in next assembly elections.

Geeta Koda is contesting for the seat for second term. In the last parliamentary elections, she had contested as Jai Bharat Samanta Party (JBSP) candidate.

Geeta Kora was born on September 26, 1983 in Kiriburu of West Singhbhum and completed intermediate from Kendriya Vidyalay and pursing graduation from correspondence course. She was married to Madhu Koda in 2004 and become the youngest MLA in Jharkhand assembly in 2009 from Jagannathpur constituency. She has two daughters and a son.

First Published: Apr 21, 2019 14:14 IST