Palamu Lok Sabha Election 2024: BJP Sitting MP Vishnu Dayal Ram in Fray With RJD's Mamta Bhuiyan in Jharkhand

Palamu, May 12: Jharkhand's Palamu is all set to witness a poll battle on May 13 between sitting MP Vishnu Dayal Ram, a BJP candidate and Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) Mamta Bhuiyan. RJD has fielded Mamta Bhuiyan as a INDIA bloc candidate. The BJP has emerged as a dominant party with landmark victories in the past two elections.

Vishnu Dayal Ram, a former Director General of Police, had won the Palamu seat - the only scheduled caste reserved constituency in the state. He was a 1973 batch IPS officer and had served as DGP of Jharkhand Police twice from July 1, 2005 to September 27, 2006 and from August 4, 2007 to January 13, 2010. He has earlier served as SP of Bhagalpur and SSP of Patna. After retirement, he joined Bharatiya Janata Party and won the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Palamu. Lucknow East By-Election 2024: BJP, Congress Intensify Campaign for Bypoll Scheduled on May 20 During Lok Sabha Election Phase 5.

On his official website, Vishnu Dayal Ram boasts about the works done by him, which includes sanctioning of new railway line from Daltonganj to Gaya via Bhaya Rafiganj after meeting Railway Minister, starting the pending construction of NH-75 from Parwa to Gadhawa via Murismer after meeting the Secretary of Transport and Highways, raising the issue of declaring Palamu District as drought-hit under rule 377 during the Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, and others.

Vishnu Dayal Ram won the seat by a margin of 4,77,606 votes against RJD's Ghuran Ram in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Vishnu Dayal Ram had secured 7,55,659 votes (62.5 per cent) while Ghuran Ram garnered 2,78,053 votes (23.0 per cent). In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP's Vishnu Dayal Ram had defeated Manoj Kumar of RJD. Vishnu Dayal Ram garnered 4,76,513 votes (48.8 per cent) while Manoj Kumar had secured 2,12,571 votes (21.8 per cent). Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 4: Campaigning for Fourth Phase of General Polls Ends, 96 Constituencies To Witness Polling on May 13.

On his candidature from Palamu constituency, Vishnu Dayal Ram had thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, "I want to thank PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda... There are 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand and BJP will win all 14 of them..." He had also stressed on the issue of development and had said, "We have asked for votes in the name of development, and will continue to ask for votes in the name of development."

On the other hand, Mamta Bhuiyan while filing her nomination papers had termed development, migration, and unemployment as the key issues. She had said, "This time, RJD, and INDIA alliance with all the partners will create a new history. The key issue of Palamu is development. Another main issue is migration and unemployment and we will try to curb it."

On May 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had conducted a public rally in Palamu where he stepped up his attacks on Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and RJD and claimed that their aim is to snatch reservation from tribals, backward classes, and Dalits and give it to Muslims. He had further criticized Congress for neglecting the interests of Palamu and overlooking the tribals and backward classes of the district.

"Congress and its supporters abandoned Palamu. Their leaders in Delhi might not even be aware of Palamu's location on the map. Most Dalits and Adivasis reside in districts like this. They insulted Palamu by labeling it as backward. I said this is unacceptable. People in so-called backward areas also harbor hopes and aspirations. Officials used to consider posting in such areas as a punishment," he had said.

Palamu is one of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies and comprises six Assembly segments--Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chattarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa, and Bhawanathpur. Palamu is an interesting Lok Sabha seat for the parties as the constituency boasts of some minerals like Iron ore, Bauxite, Lithium, Dolomite, and Coal as well as industries like Bihar Caustic and Chemicals Limited and Japla Cement Company.

Elections will be held in Jharkhand in four phases: May 13, 20, 25, and June 1. On May 13, Khunti, Lohardaga, Palamu and Singhbhum will undergo the voting.

In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 12 seats in Jharkhand, with the BJP securing 11. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress each secured one seat.