UPA to field common candidate in Koderma bypoll

Ranchi, Aug 19 (UNI) The UPA, main Opposition in Jharkhand, today announced that they would field a common candidate in the coming byelection to Koderma Parliamentary seat, claiming that the result would culminate in ''imminent fall'' of the BJP-led NDA government in the state.

Leader of Opposition Sudhir Mahto made the annoncement of the UPA's poll strategy at a joint meeting of the workers of the alliances, including Left parties, at Hazaribagh and asserted that after the bypoll the Arjun Munda government was bound to fall.

Addressing the gathering, attended by party workers from the district, besides Giridih, Chatra, Koderma, Dhanbad and Bokaro, Mr Mahto said the UPA would field a common candidate to ensure that the NDA's candidate lost its security deposit.

CPI state secretary and local MLA Bubaneswar Prasad Mehta said the Opposition was united to oust the government, adding in terms of corruption Jharkhand ''topped'' the list in the whole country.

The Left leader warned of resorting to steps like not allowing any Minister to move in the state if situation did not improve. Even DCs and SPs would not be allowed to sit in offices, he said.

Addressing the gathering, Manoj Yadav, Congress MLA, said no industry would be allowed if the displacement policy was not implemented properly.

RJD leader Annapurna Devi, CLP leader Alamgir Alam, RJD MLA Girinath Singh also addressed the gathering.

The by-poll, the date of which remained to be fixed, was necessitated following sitting MP Babulal Marandi's resignation from the Lok Sabha.

Mr Marandi, a BJP deserter and president of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha, was the lone BJP winner out 14 Parliamentary seats in the state.

The JVM president will fight the bypoll as an Independent.

UNI PRS SJC RN1848