Star campaigners will be descending on East Singhbhum, including the steel city, to campaign for Opposition grand alliance hopeful Champai Soren.

From Congress president Rahul Gandhi, JMM patriarch and three-time CM Shibu Soren, former chief ministers Hemant Soren and Babulal Marandi and state Congress chief Ajoy Kumar to new celebrity Congress entrant Shatrughan Sinha and actress-cum-Congress member Nagma, all are likely to campaign for Champai Soren, a JMM MLA from Seraikela.

The prestigious Jamshedpur Parliamentary seat, which goes to polls on May 12, is witnessing a direct fight between BJP’s sitting MP Bidyut Baran Mahto and the Alliance’s Champai Soren.

JMM East Singhbhum district president Ramdas Soren said they suggested names of star campaigners that need approval from the central election committee of the grand alliance. “But these names are final. The list also includes Congress state president and former Jamshedpur parliamentarian Ajoy Kumar. The campaign will take place both at urban (read Jamshedpur) and rural pockets,” Ramdas Soren, a former MLA from Ghatshila, told the media.

An insider said efforts would be made to arrange Rahul’s rally in Ghatshila, one of the six Assembly segments of Jamshedpur parliamentary seat. Other assembly segments include Potka, Baharagora, Jamshedpur East, Jamshedpur West and Jugsalai.

“Guruji (Shibu Soren) and Marandi will also campaign in rural areas of the constituency. The presence of tribal voters in these rural belts have been kept in mind. Hemant, Shatrughan, Nagma and Ajoy Kumar will be riveting their attention on Jamshedpur voters,” added the source in the know of things.

According to him, the central election committee may include some more names on the list of star campaigners for the Jamshedpur seat. “Jharkhand Congress minder R.P.N. Singh may also find place on the list,” he said.

Ramdas Soren said they engaged cadres in rural areas to garner support for the grand alliance candidate Champai Soren. “We are optimistic of our chances,” he said.