States »EasPosted at: Mar 25 2021 1:58PM Resurgence of BJP in Junglemahal poses stiff challenge to TMC from Jhargram
Kolkata, Mar 25 (UNI) Jhargram, a tribal heartland and once a hotbed of Maoism in West Bengal, is set to witness a battle between the dominating presence of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the rising Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) in the assembly elections with the Communists trying to hold on to what little remains of their former sway over the region.
Jhargram is one of the four seats in Bengal that witnessed maximum Maoist violence after the November 2, 2008 landmine blast on the convoy of then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
But after the ascendance of Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in 2011 and the elimination of Maoist leader Kishenji, incidents of extremism have reduced.
This time, the Trinamool Congress has fielded a Well-known Santhali actress. She is pitted against BJP candidate Sukhmoy Satpati and CPI(M) candidate Madhuja Sen Roy.
Earlier, Ms Hansda had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections on Jharkhand Party (Naren) ticket.
Daughter of the founder of Jharkhand Party (Naren) Naren Hansda and politician Chunibala Hansda, Ms Birbaha said her decision was prompted by the urge to reach out to more people and work for the society including her tribal people.
"I was working for people since long, however, I was not getting a platform to increase my outreach. Today I have joined the Trinamool Congress to increase my outreach and work for the people and help Didi in her fight against BJP," she said
The Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP candidate from Jhargram and district BJP president Sukhmoy Satpati of buying votes by giving money.
Mr Satpati sparked a controversy after a video, purportedly during a shot during his election campaign, went viral online.
In the video, Satpati is purportedly heard saying, “Come a day before polling, I will give you the expense”. The TMC has written to the Election Commission demanding action in the matter. Satpati has denied the allegations.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a public rally, also spoke about the video and slammed the BJP by accusing them of “using money to buy votes”.
In 2016, Sukumar Hansda of Trinamool Congress won the seat by defeating Chunibala Hansda from Jharkhand Party (noren) with a margin of 55228 votes.
Jhargram Assembly constituency is falling under the Jhargram Lok Sabha constituency.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kunar Hembram won from Jhargram Lok Sabha (MP) seat with a margin of 11767 votes by defeating Birbaha Saren from Trinamool Congress.
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