Dhanbad: The upcoming municipal polls in Dhanbad are gradually gaining pace as candidates step up their outreach efforts across the city. With polling scheduled for Feb 23 and only a few days remaining, aspirants are leaving no stone unturned to woo voters and strengthen their grassroots presence.Candidates are actively visiting neighbourhoods, highlighting their priorities and making promises aimed at attracting public support. Several contenders also opened election offices in different localities to ensure smooth coordination of campaign activities and outreach programmes.Mayoral candidate Mukesh Pandey formally inaugurated his election office on Wednesday. The inauguration was conducted by senior advocate and social worker Sujit Malik. Political observers view this move as an attempt to reach out to the Bengali community residing in Dhanbad. Pandey began his political journey in student politics and later associated with the BJP, and now he is trying his luck in the mayoral race.Meanwhile, former mayor Chandrashekhar Agarwal actively toured various parts of the city, recounting his previous achievements and development works undertaken during his tenure. On Wednesday evening, he visited the Durga Temple premises to meet members of the Bengali community and sought their support.On the other hand, BJP-backed candidate Sanjeev Kumar also intensified his campaign. On Wednesday, he toured the Park Market and Hirapur areas, interacting with traders and seeking their backing. He claimed to have the support of the BJP, the business community, and several other sections of society.With as many as 29 candidates contesting for the mayoral post, the competition became increasingly intense. Each candidate, accompanied by supporters, is reaching out to voters, outlining past contributions and presenting their vision for Dhanbad’s development if elected.
