Jharkhand polls: BJP releases 1st list of 66 candidates, fields ex-CM Champai Soren from Saraekelli

The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 66 candidates for the two-phase Jharkhand polls fielding former CM and JMM leader Champai Soren from Saraekelli tribal segment.

The BJP also fielded Sita Soren, the estranged sister-in-law of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, from Jamtara.

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi will contest from Dhanwar segment.

The BJP, which released candidates for 66 of the 68 seats, will contest as part of the NDA alliance in the state.

The All Jharkhand Students Union will contest ten, JDU two and LJP one.

The BJP seeks to defeat the ruling INDIA bloc alliance in the state.

The party had finalised its seat sharing in Jharkhand yesterday even as INDIA alliance partners are struggling to iron out wrinkles in their seat-sharing talks.

Champai Soren and Sita Soren, both former JMM stalwarts, had crossed over to the BJP in recent times citing CM Hemant Soren's control over the party.