Congress demands its candidate in Koderma by-election

Ranchi, Aug 21 (UNI) Despite UPA's decision to field a common candidate in the coming by-election to Koderma parliamentary seat, the Congress today demanded that the possible nominee should be from the party.

Party's State General Secretary Sailesh Sinha said Congress' demand was justified going the past results in which its nominee had won from the constituency in 1984 and 1999.

Mr Sinha said people from the seat had been traditionally showing loyalty to the national party making the Congress's stake more acceptable.

The coming by-poll had been taken by all parties as acid taste, he said adding the Congress should not only contest but also make proper strategy to snatch the seat.

He, however, made it clear Ms Sonia Gandhi as the UPA's chairman would take the final decision on the matter.

The Congress claim assumed significance with other UPA allies like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha reportedly bargaining hard for its own candidate.

Besides, Rashtriya Janata Dal also expressed confidence mustering public support for its candidate.

The seat earlier held by BJP fell vacant following party deserter Babulal Marandi's resignation from the Lok Sabha.

The BJP already made it clear that it would contest the seat tooth and nail to keep its prestige intact for Koderma was the only seat out 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand held by the party.

With various parties making strategies, Mr Marandi who is the president of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha recently said he would be in the fray as an Independent.

UNI PRS BA AKP1307