Chief minister Hemant Soren will lay the foundation of several projects and hold interactive sessions with the people of Dumka when he begins a three-day tour of Jharkhand’s sub-capital in Santhal Pargana on Monday.

Hemant’s trip _ he is scheduled to fly to Dumka in the afternoon _ comes ahead of byelections in Dumka, a seat he vacated after he became MLA from Barhait. A bypoll will also be held in Bermo as sitting MLA Rajendra Prasad Singh of the Congress died in May.

On Monday evening, Hemant will first hold meetings with notables of the district. On Tuesday, he will take part in as many as seven public programmes at various pockets of Dumka constituency to unveil a slew of public and social welfare projects.

On Wednesday, Hemant is scheduled to inaugurate three operation theatres and other facilities at the newly constructed Dumka Medical College and Hospital. He will also inaugurate a sewing training centre for women at Haripur panchayat and hand over credit linkage cash transfers to women’s self-help groups.

In the coming byelections, dates for which are yet to be announced, JMM is likely to contest Dumka, considered a traditional bastion, while ally Congress is expected to put up a candidate in Bermo.

Sources close to Hemant said he was likely to visit Bermo soon. “The mahagatbandhan is gearing up for the twin bypolls which is expected to be held along with Bihar elections likely to be announced later this month,” said a JMM leader.

He said the chief minister was keen on visiting both constituencies before the monsoon session of the state Assembly scheduled from September 18-22. “The government is of the view that the Election Commission of India may announce polls soon after the parliament session,” he added.

The Congress has also begun mobilising manpower in Bermo. State party president Rameshwar Oraon was on a two-day tour of Bokaro in the Bermo constituency and is scheduled to return to Ranchi on Monday.

Congress spokesperson Alok Dubey said, “We have begun preparations in Bermo, which has been our bastion. Our party president held extensive meetings with all block and mandal heads to assign poll related tasks.”