Veteran leader Babulal Marandi, a former chief minister, Champai Soren, Hemant Soren’s ex aide and also a former chief minister, and his son are among 66 candidates named in BJP’s list of candidates for Jharkhand polls released on Saturday evening.  

The announcement comes hours after Hemant Soren declared that the Congress and the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM will field candidates in 70 of the 81 assembly segments.

The BJP is contesting on 68 seats. Its allies, the All Jharkhand Students’ Union will contest on 10, the Janata Dal (U) on two, and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) on one.  

Mr Marandi, the Jharkhand BJP president, will contest from Dhanwar, while Champai Soren and his son Babulal Soren will contest from Saraikella and Ghatshila, respectively.

Sita Soren, the sister-in-law of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, is BJP’s nominee from Jamtara.

The list also has the names of Geeta Koda, from Jaganathpur, and former Union minister Sudarshan Bhagat fighting from Gumla.