Saturday, February 5 2005 15:09 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dumka (Jharkhand): JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) chief and Union Minister Sibu Soren's son, Hemant, today (Feb 5, 2005) filed nomination papers from Dumka, a day after senior party leader Stephen Marandi went ahead with filing his papers from there as an independent against the wishes of Soren.

Dumka is one of the 28 constituencies going for polls for the third and final phase polling on February 23.

On Marandi going against the leadership's decision to field him as the official candidate from Dumka, Hemant said ''I respect Stephenji who is like my father figure. All efforts are on to persuade him to withdraw from the fray."

Hemant, however, said he was confident of winning the seat even if Marandi did not withdraw from the race.

A Rajya Sabha member and second in command after Soren in the party, Marandi had yesterday told a public meeting in Dumka that he snapped relations with Soren for allegedly promoting dynastic politics in Jharkhand.

Marandi's rebellion came after Soren ignored his request to contest from Dumka from where the former won four times till 2000.

Durga Soren, the eldest son of the JMM chief, is contesting to retain Jama constituency.

Marandi was the Opposition leader in the State Assembly before being elected to the Rajya Sabha.