Campaign ends in Koderma, promises fierce battle

Koderma, Nov 4 (UNI) Campaigning for November six by-election to Koderma parliamentary seat, dubbed as litmus test to determine the future of Jharkhand politics, came to end this evening with a promise to witness a fierce triangular contest between UPA, BJP and independent candidate Babulal Marandi in presence of 11 other contestants in the fray.

Security has been beefed up for all 1443 booths with total electorate 13,49,091.

Mr Marandi, a BJP deserter and former chief minister whose resigning from the Lok Sabhanecessitated the bypoll, now the president of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha, is fighting to retain the seat against the stiff resistance from both BJP and ruling UPA.

The election assumed significance for the three major candidates as in case of the BJP this was the only seat they had won in the last Parliamentary election from the state and the UPA, it was a matter of presitge to show that people were with the ruling combination which was focusing a secular image.

For the lone ranger Marandi who was deserted by close aide Stephen Marandi as the latter joined the Madhu Koda government to become the Deputy Chief Minister last month, the election was not less than a rehearsal for next Assembly election in the state.

Mr Manoj Kumar Yadav (UPA), Mr Pranav Verma (NDA) and Mr Marandi could not afford to undermine the presence of another candidiate, Mr Raj Kumar Yadav (CPI-ML), who in the last poll bagged more than one lakh votes and was placed third.

For the UPA many stawalrts like Union Minsters Lalu Prasad, Sibu Soren, Meira Kumar, Subodh Kant Sahai, Sriprakash Jaiswal, Chief Minister Madhu Koda and Maharashtra Home Minister Kanti Singh made extensive tour of the constituency, which comprises six Assembly segments spread over three districts.

The BJP main campaigners included party president Rajnath Singh, former Chief Minister Arjun Minister, central leader and in-charge of Jharkhand Sumitra Mahajan and former state Finance Minster Raghubar Das.

While the the UPA and NDA were seen engaged in mud-slinging and holding Mr Marandi responsible for bypoll, the last candidate sought votes on three main points--to fight corruption, hunger and apprehension in the minds of people.

Despite all these, as usually the caste factor will also see voters polarised on the counting day, according to political observers.

If last election is any indication, the Gandey and Koderma are stronghold for UPA while Rajdhanwar and Jamua are stronghold of BJP.

The candidiate might make some impact in Bagodar.

Of the total voters, 238584 are in Koderma, 236554 (Barkathha), 222709 (Dhanwar), Bagodar (237619), Jamua (223653)and 189972 from Gandey.

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