The Congress has named Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Rajasthan leader Sachin Pilot among its star campaigners for the forthcoming bypolls in Dumka and Bermo on November 3.
The All India Congress Committee’s (AICC’s) national general secretary K.V. Venugopal released the list on Friday night.
The party’s spokesperson in Jharkhand, Lal Kishorenath Shadeo, said the schedule for the rallies of the star campaigners was being finalised. The number of rallies will increase after Durga Puja.
Talking to reporters, he said: “The schedule will be notified after the candidates inform us about their choice of dates for rallies.” The state government’s move to scrap the mandatory 14-day quarantine rule will encourage the leaders to visit the state, he added.
The other star campaigners in the list include former Madhya Pradesh minister Umang Singhar, former Union minister R.P.N. Singh, all four Congress ministers in the state and party MLAs.
On Friday, state finance minister Rameshwar Oraon wrapped up his tour to Dumka and headed to Bermo. On Saturday, he will attend half a dozen rallies in favour of party candidate Kumar Jaimangal Singh.
Chief minister Hemant Soren reached Dumka on Friday evening for a two-day visit to lead the canvassing for his brother and JMM candidate Basant.
Shahdeo said: “The UPA, comprising the JMM, Congress and the RJD, is together in the state and strategically holding campaigns at key places to woo voters. This apart, we have already deployed our MLAs from block to panchayat levels in Bermo for overseeing poll work.”
The BJP and the AJSU-P (which is fighting under the banner of NDA this time) are banking heavily on three former chief ministers — Babulal Marandi, Union tribal minister Arjun Munda and Raghubar Das — besides other central leaders. In the last one week, the three went on a whirlwind tour of Dumka and Bermo to hold a series of rallies in favour of the candidates. In Dumka, the BJP has put up Lois Marandi while in Bermo, Yogeshwar Mahto Batul has been fielded. BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo too said campaigning will intensify after Durga Puja. “Campaigning has already begun but will be intensified as the poll dates near,” he said.
