Union minister and former Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda and Kalicharan Munda on Tuesday filed their nominations as the BJP and Congress candidates respectively for the Khunti Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand. 

Alongside, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MLA Joba Manjhi also filed her nomination during the day as the INDIA bloc candidate for the Singhbhum (ST) Lok Sabha seat. 

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi, AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto and other senior leaders accompanied Munda when he submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer at the Khunti district collectorate. 

Before filing his nomination, Munda offered prayers at a temple in Khunti, the birthplace of tribal hero Birsa Munda.  

Addressing a public gathering at DAV School ground, Arjun Munda said, “The BJP is the only political party which has a plan and vision to make India, a global power. We can achieve this feat only by developing our villages. This general election will decide the country’s future course. I urge people to think which type of nation they need.” 

Appealing to people to vote for nation-building, Arjun said, “A new India is in the making. The country is ready to show the world our past glory and present strength and power.” 

After filing nomination papers, Congress candidate Kalicharan Munda said, “The issues of ‘Rafale fighter jets deal’ and ‘Chowkidaar Chor Hai’ will reverberate in Khunti’s political atmosphere. 

People of Khunti will vote to Congress to protect their land, which the incumbent BJP’s government wanted to take away from them by amending tenancy laws.”