Campaign for Deoghar civic body polls ends on a high note

Dumka: Campaign for the Deoghar Municipal Corporation elections ended on a high note on Saturday evening as political heavyweights cutting across political lines carried out public contact programmes for candidates backed by various outfits.Godda MP Nishikant Dubey addressed meetings and took part in padyatras to whip up support for BJP-backed mayoral candidate Rita Chaurasia. Predicting a landslide victory for BJP-backed candidates in all the civic bodies across Jharkhand which will vote on Feb 23, Dubey accused the state govt of not conducting civic body elections on political lines out of fear.Dubey also warned the rebel BJP leaders said they must not strain relations with the party. Notably, BJP loyalist Nagendra Nath Ballia, who is in the fray for mayor, recently claimed that the BJP was intimidating him by threatening to reopen closed police cases against him."For Deoghar's people, I am ready to clash with anyone. If the BJP forgot my sacrifices, the public would defeat its candidate and teach the party a lesson," Ballia said.The Congress is backing Ravi Kesari for the mayoral fight while JMM has supported Ravi Rawat. Eighteen candidates are in the fray for Deoghar mayor.