Jagannath Singh Bhokta JVM (D) candidate in Simaria

Ranchi/Dumka, Jan 12 (UNI) The CPI and Jharkhanhd Vikash Morcha (Democratic) have announced their nominees for the February four by-election to the Simaria Assembly seat while the UPA and NDA are yet to come up with a consensus on their respective candidates for the fray.

JVM(D) president Babulal Marandi today told UNI at Dumka that the party would pitch Mr Jagannath Singh Bhokta in the electoral battle.

CPI nominee Ramchandra Ram would be backed by the CPM.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) hinted that the party would field Mr Yogendra Baitha but the party would have to get clearance from the other UPA allies on the issue.

The Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), two other major allies of the state UPA, were expected to arrive at a common choice through dialogue, despite their rhetoric supporting their own candidates.

The by-election was necessitated following the death of BJP's Upendra Nath Das.

The BJP said the party nominee would be chosen by the high command, though the names of Mr Das's son and wife were doing the rounds for the moment.

The last date of filing nomination is January 17 and scrutiny would be done the next day.

The last date for withdrawal of nomination papers is January 21.

Counting of votes would take place on February seven.

About 2.5 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in the bypoll.

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