Bokaro: Elections in Jharkhand might be still a few years away, but that is not stopping public representatives racing to take credit for development projects in their areas.This time, Bermo MLA Kumar Jaimangal (Anup Singh) and Giridih MP Chandra Prakash Choudhary performed separate bhoomi pujans at opposite ends of a 15.9-km road in Bokaro on the same day to mark the groundbreaking ceremony of its strengthening and widening project.On Sunday, Jaimangal performed bhoomi pujan of the road, which will connect Jainamore to Phusro, at Tilka Manjhi Chowk in Jainamore. Around the same time, Choudhary also performed rituals to mark the groundbreaking ceremony at Nirmal Mahto Chowk in Phusro.The project involves widening and strengthening the existing two-lane road at an estimated cost of Rs 157.89 crore. The tender had been recently finalised for the project.The ceremonies quickly turned into a political sparring match. Jaimangal said, “The road project had been recommended by me and subsequently approved by the state govt.”Choudhary is now attempting to take credit by holding a separate bhoomi pujan at the other end of the road after the project had already received approval, he claimed. Taking a swipe at the MP, the Congress MLA said a politician who wins elections in the name of caste and religion could hardly be expected to deliver on the development front.Choudhary, an AJSU-Party MP, said, “The road had remained in poor condition for months. There was repeated pressure, and an agitation by BJP helped push the govt into approving the project.” Choudhary said political differences must not hinder development.
