Jangalmahal to heat up as Mahato enters fray

The over ground leader of the Maoists, Chhatradhar Mahato has thrown his hat in the ring and will be contesting the upcoming assembly election.

Mahato, who was arrested in October 2009 in the Maoist- infested Lalgarh in West Midnapore district, on charges of having direct links with the ultra- left insurgents, has been granted permission by the court to contest the polls.

The convener of the Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), who is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, will be contesting the election from the Jhargram Assembly constituency.

The Jhargram court on Wednesday gave its nod to his petition as Mahato is an under- trial. The tribal leader, who was a Trinamool Congress leader, prior to floating the PCAPA, is extremely popular among the tribals in the Jangalmahal region.

However, Mahato is yet to clarify whether he would be contesting as an independent candidate, or as part of a political party or alliance. Earlier, the PCAPA had extended conditional support to the Trinamool Congress in organising rallies in Lalgarh.