By revolting against their own party, two JMM leaders have filed nominations from Lohardaga and Koderma LS seats as independents against the candidates fielded by the INDIA bloc.

They are Chamra Linda, JMM MLA from Bishunpur Assembly and Jai Prakash Verma, JMM MLA from Gandey from Lohardaga and Koderma LS seats after they were denied tickets by their party.

These rebel JMM MLAs have filed nominations as Independents against Congress nominees Sukhdeo Bhagat and CPI( ML) Vinod Singh in Lohardaga and Koderma LS seats respectively.

Linda, who was suspended by JMM on grounds of his rebellion against the party, is considered to be popular among tribal voters and remained on third position after BJP’s Sudarshan Bhagat and Congress’ Rameshwar Oraon in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. 

Verma is also supporting NDA candidate Dilip Kumar Verma contesting against former CM Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren in Gandey assembly bypoll.

“Due to some obvious reasons, the party is hesitant to take any action against them as they are senior party leaders and have a strong mass base,” said a JMM functionary requesting anonymity. 

He added that Gandey by-poll being crucial the party does not want to upset any of its workers.