Madhu Koda`s wife to contest from Singhbhum

Jamshedpur: Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, who is facing graft charges, on Sunday said his MLA wife Geeta Koda will contest the forthcoming general election in his place from Singhbhum (reserved) constituency.

The decision was taken by his `Jai Bharat Samanta Party`, Koda, who represents Singhbhum in Lok Sabha, told PTI. He refused to spell out the reason for not re-seeking election from the seat. Singhbhum constituency will be the only seat where his party would field a candidate in the state, Koda, who was out on bail in connection with a money laundering case, said. He refuted speculation that Geeta Koda was likely to join Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC). "The reports are untrue. She will contest from Singhbhum constituency as our party candidate?, he said. Koda, however, said "though no offer is made from TMC in this regard as yet, we are keeping all options open. "As of now, we are gearing up to retain the Singhbhum seat, where polling will take place in April," he said. "We will discuss various party related issues and chalk out strategies related to next month`s election at a meeting to be held in Jagannathpur, West Singhbhum tomorrow," he said. Referring to the gunning down of AJSU party leader Tileshwar Sahu in Barhi, Hazaribagh yesterday, Koda said the law and order situation in the state has become a matter of concern and the police department needed to pull up its socks to check such incidents. Violence has no place in democracy, Koda said while strongly condemning the killing of Sahu.