Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate from Jamshedpur (East) Pramod Lal proceeds to file his nomination at the sub-divisional magistrate’s office on Saturday. (Srinivas)

Daltonganj, Nov. 7: The Jharkhand Vikas Party’s (JVP) merger with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) yesterday is likely to upset the RJD apple cart in Palamau.

For now, RJD members have raised a cry over “free and fair polls” in the area and have requested for the same from the Election Commission. “We appreciate JMM’s move to mainstream Left-wing rebels. But, it is the administration’s responsibility to ensure that the rebels-turned-politicians do not indulge in rigging. Otherwise, we have little to fear as RJD’s support base is intact,” said party state president Gautam Sagar Rana.

Palamau, dominated by Dalits and members of Other Backward Communities, has been a traditional RJD bastion. But the area also has a sizeable tribal population.

The alliance with Jharkhand Vikas Party, an over ground organisation of the banned CPI(Maoist), led to announcements of fresh candidates made by JMM boss Shibu Soren yesterday.

One of the star candidates includes incarcerated Maoist leader Jugal Pal’s wife, Sobha Pal, set to contest from Bishrampur.

There is also Satish Kumar, alias Satishji, who will contest from Daltongaj and JVP chief Shatrughan Kumar Shatru in the fray from Chhatarpur.

Bishrampur Assembly seat is currently held by the RJD. Chhatarpur Assembly seat, though won by a JD(U) candidate, fell vacant after its elected representative, Radha Krishna Kishore, decided to join the Congress. Daltonganj Assembly seat, too, has been lying vacant since Inder Singh Namdhari was elected to the Lok Sabha.

RJD also holds the Garhwa and Panki Assembly seats. But, the JMM is now trying to field mighty candidates in these constituencies. It is trying to persuade Keshwar Yadav, alias Ranjanji, now in Latehar jail, to contest from Panki.

Another JMM central committee member, notorious for his past, has been tipped off for Garhwa Assembly seat.

Considering recent changes in political equation, especially after the Congress announced to severe relationships with both RJD and JMM, it was widely perceived that the RJD will be grabbing a majority of Assembly seats in that area. But, JMM’s alliance move has made matters difficult.

Insiders said that the RJD can not afford to antagonise the Left-wing candidates. But, truth remains that it is upset.

RJD boss Lalu Prasad and JMM chief Soren, both are trying to lure Keshwar Yadav to his party fold and has promised him a party ticket for the Panki Assembly seat.

The RJD, it seems, is on a look out for a potential ultra-Left rebel candidate.

“Three to four rebels are likely to win the Assembly elections this time. This might not only prove to be turning point in Jharkhand politics, it will also add a new dimension to Naxalite strategies across the country. The rebels are carefully thinking on the lines of what they have already done in Nepal,” said a senior official with the Intelligence Bureau.