Jamshedpur : They are proving that they are no less than seasoned politicians when it comes to campaigning. They wave the victory sign and accept greetings from people wearing a smile on their faces. They raise slogans to grab attention of voters.
JMM�s Suman Mahto and BJP�s Abha Mahto, the two former women MPs from Jamshedpur, are making best use of their knowledge about the constituency to campaign for their party�s respective candidates.
The parties too are making best use of Suman Mahto and Abha Mahto to woo women voters across the six assembly segments � Jamshedpur East and West, Jugsalai, Potka, Bahragora and Ghatshila.
Suman, wife of slain JMM MP Sunil Mahto, expressed happiness over the overwhelming response to her campaign and added that this shows that people are with JMM. �I have been an MP and but still I am very much connected with my voters. I make sure that I campaign for the party, � she said adding that she is aware about different assembly areas whom to approach. BJP�s Arjun Munda had upset Suman in May 2009 elections.
Remaining inactive in politics for some years, Suman has jumped into the campaign trail in support of party�s candidate Niroop Mahanty. �My husband was a true worker for JMM he was killed by Naxals but I decided not to bow down and work for the party. Where ever I go people still associate me with the party and contribution made by us,� he noted.
On the other hand, Abha, a BJP parliamentarian in 1998 and 1999-2004, is euqlly active these days. She undertakes campaign trips on programme list given by the BJP district unit. � I have been visited rural areas of late and impressed with the response we are getting. Our party�s candidate Vidhyut Baran Mahto will win�.
The BJP leader and former Jamshedpur MP Mahto, has a considerable sway over the rural electorate, especially Kurmi voters. In 1998, Abha was fielded by BJP and she became the first woman to win from Jamshedpur. She defeated Russi Modi, the former chairman and managing director of Tata Steel, who fought the elections as an Independent.
In 1999, Abha was re-elected in the by-elections, in which she defeated Ghanashyam Mahato of Congress. However, in 2004 Abha was defeated by Sunil Mahato of JMM. After Sunil was assassinated by Maoists in 2007, the JMM propped up his widow Suman Mahato in the by-election. Riding a huge sympathy wave, Suman sailed through, defeating her nearest rival BJP�s Dinesh Sarangi.
But Suman could not retain her seat in the 2009 election when BJP�s Arjun Munda defeated her.
Meanwhile, the two leaders have added that as of now the single point agenda would be to strengthen the party and spreads its vision in the society.
