Dumka: In a repeat of 2018, JMM has taken a neutral stand in the Feb 23 Dumka municipal council election by not backing any candidate contesting the post of chairperson.“The party’s central leadership has decided to stay away from the civic body polls in Dumka,” Shiva Baski, president of the Dumka district unit of JMM, said.
He, however, refused to elaborate on the reason behind the move.JMM holds the Dumka Lok Sabha and assembly seats, its bastion for decades. It has cadres in every ward, many of whom are contesting as independents.“Though JMM’s urban voter base in Dumka lags behind that of BJP, its influence among Muslim, Christian, and tribal voters is believed to remain consolidated,” a JMM worker, who is contesting the election, said.JMM did not back any candidate in the 2018 election to the Dumka municipal council. Shweta Jha, the wife of local contractor Mikki Jha with ties to JMM, had won the seat by defeating BJP’s Amita Rakshit.JMM had nominated Abhishek Chaurasia for the post of deputy chairperson that year. He had secured over 7,000 votes. Mikki and Abhishek are among the 18 candidates who are in the fray for the post of chairperson this year.BJP is aggressively campaigning for its chairperson candidate, Amita Rakshit, and ward councillor aspirants.
