UPA not a factor in Koderma bypoll:CPI(ML)

Ranchi, Oct 20 (UNI) The CPI(ML) today claimed that the presence of UPA's common candidate would fail to eat into its vote bank in the November 6 by-election for Koderma Parliamentary seat.

''In that case the main contest would be between us and the BJP,'' CPI(ML) state Secretary Shubhendu Sen told newspersons here.

In the last election the party had bagged more than one lakh votes for the seat.

He claimed that polarisation of votes this time was towards them and ruled out any erosion of its base because of a common candidate fielded by the UPA.

Mr Sen said the last election result was enough to show the party's strength in Koderma, adding other candidates were nowhere in the fray.

Meanwhile, in a boost to the party, Janvadi Sangharsh Morcha(JSM) today declared to support CPI(ML) candidate Rajkumar Yadav.

JSM leader Digambar Mahto, present in the press conference, said its decision to support the CPI(ML) was to keep the BJP out of power.

After the final day of withdrawal altogether 14 contestants remained in the fray, including BJP's Pranav Kumar Verma, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha's Babulal Marandi and Congress' Manoj Kumar Yadav.

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