Ranchi, Apr 01: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha today denied that its party activists were responsible for the recent attack on former chief minister Babulal Marandi during his canvassing for BJP candidate Ajit Yadav for the Poreyahat assembly by-poll. "The attack was stage managed by the BJP itself to draw sympathy votes," newly-elected JMM legislator Prashant Kumar Mandal told a press conference here.

He also pleaded innocence in the attack on a block development officer saying "the police had charged me with the incident unnecessarily".

Mandal, who defeated his nearest BJP rival by 606 votes in the Poreyahat assembly bye-poll held on March 24, said that the Opposition would continue to work unitedly.
Bureau Report