Supporters of Ranchi MP protest outside BJP office

RANCHI: A day after BJP high command announced candidates for the 10 parliamentary seats in Jharkhand but withheld names for Ranchi, Chatra and Koderma constituencies, supporters of outgoing Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary, staged protests outside the state BJP headquarters here, condemning the saffron party's 'attitude' towards the veteran leader.

Choudhary, too, claimed that the party will have to face collateral damage in the upcoming Lok Sabha election in Jharkhand if his candidature is ignored. However, he wasn't present during Sunday's protest outside the party office.

On Saturday, BJP's high command announced its candidates for 10 of the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies it is contesting in Jharkhand. While the party retained most of the sitting MPs, it replaced Karia Munda, an eight-time MP from Khunti, by much younger partyman and former chief minister Arjun Munda. Out of total 14 Lok Sabha seats, BJP has given Giridih constituency to its ally Ajsu-P.

Party sources reasoned age factor behind benching of Karia and said that an attempt is being made to replace leaders who are above 75 years. At the same time BJP leaders here added that none is aware about the fate of Ram Tahal's candidature as the ball is in central leadership's court now. BJP is likely to announce candidates for remaining three seats on March 25.

Ram Tahal Choudhary (77) won the Ranchi parliamentary seat five times since 1991. He refused to accept the age bar. "What has age got to do with elections? I have been active since the last 50 years. Even at this age, I move around within and outside my constituency and attend Parliament regularly," Choudhary told TOI over phone.

"Ranchi is my home bastion and I can assure victory for BJP if it gives me a ticket. I am still sure of getting the ticket. The delay in announcing my name as a nominee for the Ranchi seat is baffling to me as well as my supporters," he added.

Asked if he will still fight even if the party doesn't give him ticket, he said, "That's a hypothetical question. I haven't thought about it. I will take appropriate decision after consulting with my supporters."

Some of the candidates who are reportedly said to be in fray for the Ranchi lok Sabha seat seat include Ranchi University registrar A K Choudhary, BCCI's acting secretary and former president of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Amitabh Choudhary, state khadi board chairman Sanjay Seth among others.