The campaign spotlight on Saturday shifted to Kolhan division where the second phase of voting is scheduled on December 7.

Union steel minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed rallies at Chakradhapur for BJP state president Laxman Giluwa and at Jagannathpur in West Singhbhum for Sudhir Kumar Sundi. Union textile minister Smriti Irani canvassed at Chakulia (in Baharagora constituency) for Kunal Sarangi and at Moubhandar (in Ghatshila constituency) for Lakhan Mardi in East Singhbhum.

JMM executive president Hemant Soren also addressed a rally in Manoharpur constituency to drum up support for Joba Majhi.

Seeking votes for Giluwa at Chainpur grounds in Chakradharpur, Prasad said: “We are going to form the government in the state and if you elect Giluwa, the party would give him a responsible position in the state cabinet, which would usher in development in the region.”

At the rally at Jaintgarh in Jagannathpur constituency, Pradhan accused the JMM and Congress governments of looting iron ore mines in Noamundi without carrying out development in the region. “We are planning to revive the closed mines and provide employment to the local people,” he said.

Dharmendra Pradhan addresses a rally in Sonari for Jamshedpur West candidate Devendra Singh on Saturday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

At Chakulia, Smriti Irani highlighted the success of the Raghubar Das government in implementing the central government schemes. “However, Opposition parties blinded by corruption are not able to see the development,” she said.

At Moubhandar grounds in Ghatshila, Irani said the construction of toilets had brought respite to nearly 11 crore women. “Our government has given a swastha (healthy) and swachh (clean) India. I would request you to vote for the lotus as goddess Laxmi comes on lotus, but never carries a bow and arrow (the JMM symbol),” she said.

BJP’s Lakhan Mardi is locked in a triangular fight with JMM’s Ramdas Soren and Ajsu’s Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu in Ghatshila.

Irani also campaigned for party candidate Sadhu Charan Mahto at Nimdih in Ichagarh constituency.

Addressing the rally in Manoharpur constituency, Hemant took a dig at the BJP’s double-engine government.

“There is only engine and no bogie for the poor people of Jharkhand. Crores were spent on overseas tours and Momentum Jharkhand, but nothing was done to improve the lives of the people,” Hemant said.