MP Bidyut Baran Mahto, accompanied by hundreds of bikers, greeted people with folded hands from an open jeep during a BJP road show on Thursday to express gratitude for his second consecutive Lok Sabha election victory from Jamshedpur by what is being described as a record margin.
Amid chants of “Modi, Modi,” BJP supporters burst crackers, smeared gulal on each other and played the drums at the “Abhar Yatra” to celebrate Mahto’s win over veteran JMM leader Champai Soren by 3,02,090, the highest victory margin recorded in the constituency.
“I wanted to show my appreciation to the people of Jamshedpur constituency for giving me such a huge mandate. I will have to leave for Delhi on Saturday to attend a meeting of newly-elected MPs. But I will hold similar processions in rural areas after I return,” Mahto told The Telegraph after the two-hour rally.
The rally, with over 600 bikers, began from the BJP’s Sakchi party office at 10.30am and wound its way through Straight Mile Road, Baradwari, Bhalubhasa, Agrico roundabout, Golmuri roundabout, J.R.D. Tata roundabout, New Kalimati Road, Bistupur-Sakchi Road, Jusco roundabout in Northern Town, Bistupur roundabout, P&M Hi-tech City Centre Mall and Jamshedpur Women’s College, before returning to Sakchi roundabout.
Mahto, who was accompanied by BJP district president Dinesh Kumar Sahu, former district president Nandjee Prasad and state party spokesperson Rajesh Shukla, had to stop at various points to allow supporters to shower flowers, smear gulal and dance to the beat of nagaras.
Party men shook hands with him wherever they got an opportunity.
“I did not expect victory by such a huge margin… it was due to the Modi wave to express appreciation for the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Raghubar Das,” he said.
Mahto said he had tried his best to take up various issues, including the revival of closed mines, the Dhalbhumgarh airport and other infrastructure projects.
“I think I am duty bound to pursue these projects, especially the completion of NH-33, construction of the airport at Dhalbhumgarh, and also work towards turning Jamshedpur into an education hub during this tenure. My priority is to usher in development and improve the education scenario which can end the Naxalite menace,” said Mahto.
Asked whether he would be assigned a ministry, the MP was non-committal.
“It is for the party to decide. But, I will continue to work for the construction of roads and push for other infrastructure projects,” he added.
