An epic battle of two former chief ministers is unfolding in the Dumka (ST) seat with sitting MP Shibu Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha looking to fend off the challenge from Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik)'s Babulal Marandi even as a resurgent BJP seeks to turn the tables on both.
BJP has fielded Sunil Soren, a one-time protege of Shibu Soren, to try and prevent an eighth Lok Sabha poll win for the JMM chief here in tomorrow's elections with the presence of Marandi in the fray adding a twist to the plot.
While Shibu Soren enjoys considerable support among the people here, Marandi, who was the first chief minister of Jharkhand, is a formidable opponent and would leave no stone unturned to prevent the JMM leader from winning the seat.
Marandi (56), the sitting MP from Kodarma, says, "JMM has cheated the people with its false promises. What I did in three years of my chief ministership, JMM failed to do in 30 years while sharing power at the Centre and in the state."
But JMM leaders are confident that Shibu Soren, who has thrice been the chief minister of Jharkhand, will easily secure the seat.
JMM, which is fighting these polls as an ally of the Congress-led UPA, is also relying on Shibu Soren's son and present Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant to win votes here.
Hemant Soren has virtually set up camp in the Santhal Pargana region and is canvassing for his father and another party candidate, Vijay Hansda who is contesting the neighbouring Raj Mahal seat.
However, BJP is targeting the Cong-JMM alliance by raising the issues of corruption and price rise and also banking on the perceived wave in favour of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
Modi has already campaigned here for his party's candidate Sunil Soren, who is seeking votes on the assurance that BJP will "control price rise, corruption and provide employment opportunities if voted to power".
Sunil Soren was lured away from Shibu Soren by Babulal Marandi, who, however, later left BJP to start the JVM(P) in 2006.
