Rejected by tribals, Marandi chooses Koderma: Jharkhand CM

Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) president Babulal Marandi chose Koderma, a general seat, to contest the Lok Sabha elections as he knows that tribals have rejected him, state Chief Minister Raghubar Das Tuesday claimed.

Das also alleged Marandi's domicile policy had triggered violence in the state in 2002 and 2003 when he was the chief minister of a BJP government.

"Five out of 14 Lok Sabha seats are reserved for tribals (in Jharkhand). But he is contesting from a general seat as tribals have come to know that he talks about development but does not follow it at the ground level," the chief minister said.

Marandi had won the Koderma Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Ravindra Ray of the BJP, thrice - in 2004, 2006 and 2009. He emerged third in the 2014 general elections.

Marandi who filed his papers from Koderma on Monday was the first chief minister of Jharkhand, carved out of Bihar in 2000 when he was a BJP leader. He resigned from the saffron party in 2006 and formed the JVM(P).

Addressing a public meeting here, Das said electing a stable government at the Centre will root out terrorism. He also commended the security forces for gunning down three Maoists on Monday in Giridih district.

The chief minister accompanied BJP nominee Annapurna Devi when she filed her nomination from Koderma.

Das said electing a stable government at the Centre would root out terrorism.

He also commended the security forces for gunning down three Maoists on Monday in Giridih district.

Alleging that leaders of the opposition alliance were corrupt, Das said they were afraid of going to jail in the event of Prime Minister Narendra Modi returning to power.

Koderma is going for polls on May 6 along with Ranchi, Hazaribagh and Khunti (ST).

Jharkhand will have a four-phase poll beginning April 29.