Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) patriarch and party president Shibu Soren on Monday filed nomination from Dumka Lok Sabha constituency, eyeing a record ninth victory from the seat.
Addressing the gathering outside Dumka collectorate before filing his nomination, Soren reminded the struggle that led to creation of Jharkhand. He, however, lamented that the people’s dreams remained unfulfilled.
“I will continue my engagement with the people and hope, 2019 will be the year of JMM to actualise the Jharkhandi dreams,” he said.
He was accompanied by his son and former chief minister Hemant Soren, JVM (P) chief and Jharkhand’s first chief minister Babulal Marandi, state Congress president Ajoy Kumar, RJD’s state chief Gautam Sagar Rana, among others.
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Senior Soren and BJP’s Karia Munda have won Lok Sabha polls eight times. However, Munda is not contesting this time as the BJP has replaced him with former CM Arjun Munda for Khunti seat.
Sibu Soren had won Dumka in 1980, 1989, 1991, 1996, 2002 by-polls, 2004, 2009 and 2014.
Interestingly, Soren was defeated by Babulal Marandi in 1998 who was with the BJP then. In 1999, Marandi defeated Soren’s wife Roopi Soren.
After forming Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) in 2006, Marandi contested from Dumka seat in 2014 as well and finished third with 1.58 lakh votes. BJP’s Sunil Soren was the runner-up. This time, Shibu Soren is up against BJP’s Sunil Soren, his former protégé.