The BJP also flaunted JMM rebel MLA Jai Prakash Bhai Patel, who announced his support to the NDA on Friday, at the Saturday rally preceding Mahto’s nomination. The 63-year-old Das added that the JMM had become a budhha morcha (old party) with people like Shibu Soren and Champai Soren. Apart from the JMM rebel leader, others on the dais were state BJP president Laxman Gilua, food minister Saryu Roy, party general secretary Deepak Prakash, BJP MLAs Menaka Sardar (Potka), Sadhucharan Mahto (Ichhagarh), Laxman Tudu (Ghatshila), state BJP spokesperson Rajesh Shukla, NDA ally Ajsu’s supremo Sudesh Mahto and MLA (Jugsalai) Ramchandra Sahis. BJP women wing members sported Narendra Modi masks while youths wore tees embossed with Bidyut Baran Mahto’s pictures. Das, Mahto and other leaders went in an open jeep to the DC-cum-returning officer Amit Kumar’s office.

Source: The Telegraph April 20, 2019 18:45 UTC