Ranchi: Campaigning for the second phase of
Jharkhand assembly polls on December 2 on Monday ended amid
Maoist-imposed 48-hour bandh in the state.
Congress leaders promised a corruption-free government
against the backdrop of former chief minister Madhu Koda`s
alleged involvement in a multi-crore rupees scam.
The party is in alliance with Jhakhand Vikas Morcha led
by former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi.
Union ministers Ambika Soni and Ajay Maken campaigned for
the party along with state-level leaders.
Pledging development of the state, BJP charged the
Congress with having secret sharing of profits of crime during
the 23-month rule of Madhu Koda. The Centre`s failure to rein
in the Maoists also figured in the party`s campaign.
Senior BJP leaders like Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley
were the star campaigners for the party.
JMM President Shibu Soren said his detractors had
prevented him from ruling Jharkhand which, he claimed, was
created after decades of struggle by him.
The tribal leader, who is not in the fray, promised to
protect the interests of the state.
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan,
whose parties are contesting in alliance with the left
parties, ridiculed the Congress for aligning with Babulal
Marandi "who had an RSS background."
While CPIML (Liberation) General Secretary Dipankar
Bhattacharya accused the UPA of encouraging corruption during
the Koda regime, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury appealed to the
voters to send some Left leaders to the assembly to raise
people-friendly issues.
A total of 30,96,854 voters are eligible to exercise
their franchise in 14 assembly seats going to polls in the
second phase.
Former minister Bandhu Tirkey, RJD veteran Annapurna
Devi and senior Congress leader Manoj Yadav are some of the
prominent leaders in the fray for the second phase polling.
PTI
