Lok Sabha Elections 2019: From Shibu Soren to Kirti Azad, here are key contestants in Jharkhand

The state of Jharkhand, which has 14 Lok Sabha seats, went to poll in the last four phases i.e. April 29, May 6, May 12, and May 19. Out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, eight are reserved for general category candidates, five for Scheduled Tribe (ST) and one for Scheduled Caste (SC).

The opposition parties have stitched an alliance to halt the saffron bandwagon in the state which has largely remained a bastion of the BJP. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (Prajatantrik) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have hammered out a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress in Jharkhand. As per the pact, the Congress will contest seven seats in Jharkhand, leaving four for the JMM, two for the JVM and one for the RJD. On the other side, the State’s ruling BJP and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) has entered into a 13-1 seat-sharing formula.

Let’s have a look at some of the key contestants:

1. Khunti - Arjun Munda (BJP) Vs Kalicharan Munda (Congress)

(2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Karia Munda, Margin: 92,248)

Jharkhand's Khunti is a BJP stronghold and party leader Karia Munda represented the seat eight times in 1977 (as a Janata Party candidate), 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2009 and 2014. However, the BJP has decided to replace Karia Munda with former state chief minister Arjun Munda this time. The Congress has again fielded Kalicharan Munda against Arjun Munda.

2. Kodarama - Annapurna Devi Yadav (BJP) Vs Babulal Marandi (JVM)

(2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Ravindra Kumar Ray, Margin: 98,654)

Former Jharkhand chief minister and JVM president Babulal Marandi, who represented the seat thrice, is taking on BJP's Annapurna Devi Yadav. The BJP has dropped its sitting MP Ravindra Kumar Ray this time and fielded Annapurna, who was a former state president of the RJD. Marandi won the seat in 2004, 2006 (bypoll) and 2009. In 2014, BJP's Ray defeated CPI-ML's Raj Kumar Yadav by over 98,000 votes, while Marandi could get only the third position. Raj Kumar is again in the fray.

3. Hazaribagh - Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta (CPI) Vs Gopal Sahu (Congress) Vs Jayant Sinha (BJP)

(2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Jayant Sinha, Margin: 1,59,128)

Union Minister Jayant Sinha will try to get a second term from Hazaribagh. In 2014, Jayant defeated Congress candidate Saurabh Narayan Singh by over 1,59,000 votes. The seat was represented by Jayant's father Yashwant Sinha thrice in 1998, 1999 and 2009. CPI's Bhubneshwar Prasad Mehta, who won the seat in 1991 and 2004, is again contesting the elections. The Congress last represented the seat in 1984.

4. Dhanbad - Pashupati Nath Singh (BJP) Vs Kirti Azad (Congress)

(2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Pashupati Nath Singh, Margin: 2,92,954)

The Dhanbad Lok Sabha Constituency is currently held by Pashupati Nath Singh of BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, he defeated beat Ajay Kumar Dubey of Congress by receiving 47.50 per cent of the votes cast in this constituency.

The key candidates in the Dhanbad constituency for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 are Pashupati Nath Singh of BJP and Kirti Azad of CONGRESS.

5. Dumka - Shibu Soren (JMM) Vs Sunil Soren (BJP)

(2014 Result: JMM, Winner: Shibu Soren, Margin: 39,030)

Dumka Lok Sabha Constituency of Jharkhand is a reserved seat and currently held by Shibu Soren of JMM. In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Shibu Soren beat Sunil Soren of BJP by receiving 37.20 per cent of the votes cast in this constituency.

The key candidates in the Dumka (ST) constituency for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 are Shibu Soren of JMM and Sunil Soren of BJP.