By IANS,
Ranchi : Ignoring the Congress’ request, Durga Soren, the eldest son of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren, has refused to withdraw his nomination from the Godda Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand.
Wednesday was the last day for withdrawal of nomination for the second phase of elections, scheduled April 23.
But the Congress’ efforts to persuade Durga Soren to back out have failed.
Under the Congress-JMM seat-sharing agreement in the state, Godda was allotted to the Congress, which has a sitting MP there.
Godda MP Furkan Ansari of the Congress met Durga Soren Monday and again Tuesday and tried to persuade him to withdraw his nomination.
“It is up to the JMM and Durga Soren to decide on the alliance in the state. The Congress is waiting for their decision,” said Alok Dubey, spokesperson of the Congress election committee in Jharkhand.
Filing his nomination, Durga Soren had said he would teach a lesson to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for ensuring his father’s defeat in the Tamar assembly by-election.
In January, Shibu Soren had lost the by-election, which he needed to win to remain the state’s chief Minister.