Jharia MLA Ragini Singh Backs BJP Candidate Sanjeev Agrawal for Dhanbad Mayor, Not Husband

Dhanbad: Putting an end to ongoing speculations, Jharia MLA Ragini Singh on Friday said she will campaign for BJP-backed candidate Sanjeev Agrawal and not her husband Sanjeev Singh, both of whom are contesting for the post of Dhanbad mayor.

A former Jharia MLA himself who was served eight years in jail before being acquitted last year in the murder case of his cousin and former Dhanbad deputy mayor Neeraj Singh (in 2017), Singh filed his nomination as a rebel candidate.

Towing the party line, Ragini, who spoke to reporters on Friday, said she stood firm with the party and will follow its decision in the municipal elections. Stating that she belongs to a disciplined political organisation and will extend her support only to the party-backed candidate, Ragini said, “The party, after due consultation and survey, has put its seal on Sanjeev Agrawal’s name. I will campaign for him as per the responsibility entrusted to me by the party.”

Clarifying her position on her husband’s candidature, Ragini Singh said that Sanjeev Singh’s decision to contest the municipal elections was his personal choice. Refusing to campaign for her husband, Ragini said, “As an MLA, it is my duty to carry out the tasks assigned by the party leadership.” Pointing out that several BJP functionaries are contesting as rebels, Ragini said she will back Agrawal.

Ragini recently participated in a meeting of the committee formed for the municipal elections, which was attended by Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha, BJP district president Shravan Rai, senior party leader Hari Prakash Lata, and several other prominent leaders.

Besides Sanjeev Singh, several BJP rebels such as Mukesh Pandey, Bhirgunath Bhagat, Shantanu Chandra and former mayor Chandrashekhar Agrawal have filed their nomination papers. While Chandrashekhar joined Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Chandra resigned from the party’s primary membership. The remaining candidates continue to contest the election as BJP rebels.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations was today, but none of the rebel candidates withdrew their papers. Meanwhile, JMM-supported candidate Neelam Mishra withdrew her nomination, as Chandrashekhar Agrawal, who recently switched from BJP to JMM, is now contesting as the JMM-backed candidate.