By IANS,
Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda has cut short his US visit to decide a candidate for the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha bypoll scheduled July 1.
Munda went to the US for treatment of his two sons May 30. He was scheduled to return June 12. But now he will arrive in New Delhi Thursday night. His wife and sons will return after a week.
When the chief minister was away, the Election Commission announced the dates of the bypoll. The nominations will take place by June 14.
The bypoll was necessitated as Munda quit the seat after getting elected to the state assembly in February.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s alliance partner Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has also announced it would fight the bypoll.
Sources in the BJP said Munda would try to persuade the JMM not to fight the poll.
The name of the BJP candidate will be finalised Friday.
Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pradeep Sinha told IANS: “The Jharkhand unit of the party will hold a meeting Friday to shortlist the name of nominees. The chief minister will also be present in the meeting.”
Key opposition party, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) has fielded former Jamshedpur Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar as its nominee in the bypoll.