Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, a collective of right outfits that claims to be campaigning among people even before the Lok Sabha election, has asserted that people do not want a “bulldozer” BJP government in poll-bound Jharkhand.

Abhiyan members, however, in a press statement, added that there is widespread anger against several sitting MLAs of the ruling coalition (JMM-Congress-RJD) and suggested that those candidates should not be repeated.

“INDIA bloc main parties — the JMM and the Congress — have so far declared candidates on 63 seats. This apart, the RJD has announced candidates in six and the new member of the alliance the CPI-ML has announced candidates in four constituencies. Barring a few seats, the ruling coalition has repeated sitting MLAs. However, many MLAs have not worked as per people’s expectations during their tenure leading to widespread anger against them. They demand that they be changed,” said a statement issued by the Abhiyan on Thursday evening.

“During our campaign, the public does not want double bulldozer BJP rule in Jharkhand, but the alliance giving tickets again to MLAs who are cut off from the area and do not work is weakening the aspirations and enthusiasm of the people. Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan strongly opposes the selection of such candidates,” the statement adds.

“The Abhiyan members believe that the BJP rule will be against Jharkhandi interests and democratic rights. People remember the anti-people attitude of the erstwhile Raghubar Das-led BJP government. In the last five years, the Hemant Soren government did many things and fought for the interests of Jharkhandis despite continuous attacks by the BJP and the Centre on the federal structure of the Constitution,” the statement claimed.

“Works on many public issues are pending, only a non-BJP government can complete those pending works which is the reason the Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan is awakening public opinion against the BJP rule in Jharkhand. But the list of candidates declared by the INDIA alliance is mismatched with this public opinion campaign,” the statement informs.

It cites the constituencies of Khijri, Simdega, Kolebira, Manika, Latehar, Gumla, Bishunpur, Sisai, Tamar, Ichagarh, Chakradharpur, Jagannathpur, Nala and Dumka and claims that there is strong resentment against the incumbent MLAs of ruling coalition.

“The candidates of these constituencies were neither seen in the area for five years nor did they do any special work on the basic facilities of the village. Apart from this, they did not stand with the people in many cases of violation of people’s rights,” the statement further states.