Maji, Sahu file nominations, RJD backs JMM candidate

Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) Rajya Sabha candidate Mahua Maji managed to garner the support of the Mahagatbandhan’s other ally RJD as she filed her nomination papers on Tuesday afternoon. On the last day of filing the nominations, BJP’s Aditya Sahu also submitted his nomination papers.
Satyanand Bhogta, the state labour minister and the RJD’s lone MLA in Jharkhand, backed Maji’s candidature and signed her nomination papers as one of the 10 proposers. Maji filed her nomination papers in two sets before Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha secretary Jawed Haider which were proposed by 20 lawmakers in all, including chief minister Hemant Soren.
Maji (57) expressed her gratitude to Soren and JMM president Shibu Soren. “I will uphold the values of our party and work for the development of Jharkhand’s people,” she said.
Soren, who arrived in the Vidhan Sabha building with JMM lawmakers, senior office bearers and Sahebganj MP Vijay Hansdak, did not seem ruffled with the Congress party’s absence. “Rajya Sabha elections and running a government are two different things,” Soren told journalists, hinting he was hopeful that the Congress would move on from this episode.