Jamshedpur, March 9: Chief minister Hemant Soren today offered Sabita Mahto, widow of senior JMM leader and former deputy chief minister, Sudhir Mahto, to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Jamshedpur seat.
But, Sabita declined the offer, citing reasons that she has the responsibility of grooming her four daughters.
“I welcome the party’s gesture to offer to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Jamshedpur seat. But, I have my priorities. I have to groom my daughters. I will definitely work for the party as and when situation arises,” said Sabita to the media after chief minister met her at her residence.
She said that her husband, Sudhir Mahto, had asked her not to contest the Lok Sabha elections if situation so arise in future. She is presently chairman of Jharkhand State Agricultural Marketing Board.
The chief minister had earlier made it clear that following a pre-poll alliance with Congress, the JMM has to field candidates at four constituencies in Jharkhand.
“As Jamshedpur constituency is also one of these four seats, the party’s central committee had decided to field Sabita Mahto as a candidate from the Jamshedpur constituency, but she has declined to accept the offer,” said Soren while talking to media .
Soren said that the selection of candidates is made by the JMM’s central committee and the party president Shibu Soren will declare the name of the candidates latest by March 11. He said another constituen- cy where the party will field a candidate is Giridih and declined to say anything about the rest of the two constituencies.
The chief minister, on being asked, said that the murder of AJSU leader Tileswar Sahu is a sad thing to happen. He pointed out that the state government is committed to find out the killers of the slian leader and it is ready to recommend even for a CBI enquiry if necessary.
“We are ready to recommend for a CBI enquiry into the Tileswar Sahu murder, while we condemn the incident in strongest words,” said Soren while addressing the media.
Talking about the poll plank, Soren said that the development will be our poll plank. “The development issue will be our poll plank. We will go among the voters seeking their blessings for making the Jharkhand a stronger and prosperous state,” said the former Chief Minister.
On replying question, Hemant Soren said that some local leader in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has made a tie up with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. He pointed out that this was a primary step by the party and a final decision will be taken only after the party president gives his nod on the alliance in Odisha. Anwswering questions, Soren said that the JMM is also getting offer for prepoll alliance in Bihar, and stated that a decision to this effect will be taken by Guruji and the party’s central committee only.
At Sabita’s house in Ulyan, Kadma, the Chief Minister Soren held a talk which last for over 90 minutes. His cabinet colleague and the senior party leader, Champai Soren was also present at the meeting.