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The battle of Koyalanchal, specifically Jharia, has emerged as a key battleground in the Jharkhand Assembly election, with the contest between Congress sitting MLA Purnima Neeraj Singh against her sister-in-law and BJP leader Ragini Singh.
Purnima Neeraj Singh is the wife of late Neeraj Singh and Ragini is the wife of BJP leader and ex-MLA Sanjeev Singh. Sanjeev and Neeraj both are cousins. In the 2014 assembly election, BJP leader Sanjeev Singh won the assembly election from Jharia and Neeraj was the Deputy Mayor of Jharia. However, Neeraj Singh was murdered in 2017 and Sanjeev, who was then elected MLA from Jharia, was charged in the murder case and was also imprisoned. Later, the Congress Party gave a ticket to Neeraj's wife Purnima Singh in the 2019 Assembly election and the BJP gave a ticket to Sanjeev's wife Ragini Singh who however lost to Purnima. After the 2019 assembly elections, Ragini Singh and Purnima Singh, both sisters-in-law are again pitted against each other in this election. Jharia constituency which will go to polls in the second phase on November 20 is dominated by Rajputs and Muslims voters therefore caste politics have a major role in this seat. Along with Muslims and Rajputs, OBC votes also have a major impact on this seat. Coal mining plays a major role in the economic status of Jharia as half of the population depends on this and is indirectly in touch with coal businesses. BJP will contest the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections in alliance with All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP). BJP will contest 68 seats, AJSU 10 seats, JD-U two seats and LJP one seat. The party's state chief, Babulal Marandi, will contest from Dhanwar, Lobin Hembrom from Borio, and Sita Soren from Jamtara. Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Champai Soren has been nominated as the candidate from Saraikella, Geeta Balmuchu from Chaibasa, Geeta Koda from Jaganathpur, and Meera Munda, the wife of Union Minister Arjun Munda, will contest from Potka. Elections are being held on 81 seats of the Jharkhand assembly in two phases on November 13 and November 20. (ANI)
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