Former Union minister P. Chidambaram will bat for the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance in Jharkhand on Friday.

“He will reach Ranchi on Friday at 9.30am and he will address a news meet at 12.30pm,” state Congress general secretary Alok Dubey said on Thursday. “He will return to Delhi in the evening.”

The only times Chidambaram has been to Jharkhand as a public figure were when he was Union home minister, mostly to review anti-Naxalite operations.

“As a former finance minister and expert of economic matters of the country he will be our most authentic voice whom people will like to hear at a time when the country is passing through economic crisis,” a senior state Congress leader said.

“He is also expected to speak on the economic issues of Jharkhand. Our objective is to force BJP leaders to speak on economic issues in their election rallies. We will change the narratives of the Assembly election.”

Congress insiders said it was unlikely that Chidambaram would address any election rally, owing to the language problem.

“The Congress is facing dearth of leadership,” said state BJP spokesperson Pratu Nath Shahdeo. “A man like Chidambaram, who is facing corruption cases, will teach ethics to people in Jharkhand!”