Five ‘Maoists’ join JMM, may contest jharkhand poll

Jharkhand’s second largest political party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is planning to send five ‘revolutionary left wing insurgents’—they have strong objection to being called Naxals —to the state assembly later this year.

Jharkhand’s second largest political party, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is planning to send five ‘revolutionary left wing insurgents’—they have strong objection to being called Naxals —to the state assembly later this year.

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The party had sent an alleged Naxal, Kameshwar Baitha from jail to Parliament, earlier this year, following his victory from Palamau in the general election.

Party leaders told HT on Saturday that all the five alleged Maoists, who took JMM’s membership — two of them are in jail — at the party’s election rally in Daltanganj on October 6, may contest in the state assembly elections.

“They have willingly accepted our invitation to shun violence and participate in the democratic process,” said JMM central committee secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya, adding, “It is now our duty to welcome them with open arms and give them the due respect.”

The alleged Naxalites, who joined JMM on Friday, are Jugal Pal alias Madanji, Satish Kumar, Sobha Pal, Sahtrughan Prasad and Santosh Paswan.

The remaining three also have criminal cases against them, but are out on bail.

Jharkhand is one of the seven states hit by the Naxal menace. Maoists have a strong hold in all 24 districts here.