A host of leaders on Friday held rallies and road shows across Dhanbad, where all six constituencies — Jharia, Dhanbad, Sindri, Baghmara, Tundi and Nirsa — will vote on Monday.

Raghubar Das

Addressing a rally of around 7,000 spectators at Rangamati Ground in Sindri, the chief minister said: “The double-engine government has carried out all-round development of the state while the Congress and JMM alliance, during their rule, concentrated on plundering the state’s resources.”

He ridiculed the JMM and Congress for fielding elderly candidates — like Phulchand Mandal, 76, from Sindri and Mannan Mallick, 74, from Dhanbad. Das also claimed credit for launching the Sindri Fertilizer Factory, and took part in a road show at Nirsa.

Sachin Pilot with Dhanbad Congress candidate Mannan Mallick Picture by Gautam Dey

Sachin Pilot

Addressing a crowd of around 5,000 people at MPI ground of Bhuli in Dhanbad Assembly constituency in support of Congress candidate Mannan Mallick, Sachin Pilot said: “The BJP government is claiming development in the state but the youth here are facing the pangs of unemployment. Due to faulty policies of government which caused recession even the existing industries are closing down. Jharkhand is lagging behind in development despite being endowed with huge mineral resources — just for the wrong policies of the BJP.”

Manoj Tiwari with Tundi BJP candidate Vikram Pandey Picture by Gautam Dey

Manoj Tiwari

Bhojpuri actor-turned BJP Delhi state president Manoj Tiwari addressed a gathering of around 10,000 people at Nichitpur Ground of Dhanbad in support of Tundi BJP candidate Vikram Pandey. Tiwari extolled the Centre’s schemes including the PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat, and Ujjwala Yojana.

India’s stature had been elevated under Narendra Modi’s leadership, Tiwari claimed.

Sudesh Mahato with Ajsu Party candidate Awdesh Yadav Picture by Gautam Dey

Sudesh Mahto

The Ajsu Party chief and former Jharkhand deputy chief minister addressed a rally of around 3,000 people at Jamadoba Ground in Jharia in support of the party’s Jharia candidate Awdhesh Yadav.

Mahto, whose party has officially divorced the BJP in this election, took potshots at both the BJP and Congress.

“Both Congress candidate Purnima Singh and BJP candidate Ragini Singh are from the same family which has ruled Jharia for the maximum tenure but never tried to develop the coal-rich area. As a result, the people here are deprived of basic facilities. People should elect and give opportunity to Yadav, who is fighting on the agenda of development,” said Mahto.