Assam CM Attempts to Mend BJP Ties in Jharkhand

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met former Jharkhand minister Satyanand Jha 'Batul' to convince him to withdraw his independent candidacy for the upcoming assembly polls. Jha had filed his nomination from the Nala constituency after being denied a BJP ticket, amid crucial elections scheduled for November.

In a bid to maintain party unity, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Jharkhand's Jamtara district to meet disgruntled BJP leader and independent candidate Satyanand Jha 'Batul'. Sarma urged Jha to withdraw from the Nala assembly race, where Jha had filed his candidacy after being denied a party ticket.

Sarma emphasized the importance of forming a BJP government in Jharkhand and offered Jha a significant position either at the state or central level to secure his political future. Recognizing Jha as a long-standing BJP member, Sarma sought to quell the unrest before the elections.

Jha, however, remained non-committal, indicating that he would decide only after consulting with his supporters. The electoral battle in Nala sees the BJP's Madhav Chandra Mahato pitted against JMM's Rabindra Nath Mahato, amidst the two-phase assembly elections on November 13 and 20, with results to be announced on November 23.

(With inputs from agencies.)