Ranchi: Campaigning for the third and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand has gained momentum, with leaders of different parties wooing the electorate.

The third phase will cover four seats — Dhanbad, Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda — April 24. The first two phases were held April 10 and 17 for five seats each.

Leaders of different parties have already hit the campaign trail, with former BJP president Nitin Gadkari addressing rallies in the Dumka and Dhanbad constituencies on Friday.

Former chief minister and president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) Babulal Marandi, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and other leaders are trying their best to win maximum number of seats in Santhal Pargana region which is considered a JMM bastion.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been addressing three to four rallies daily.

Dumka has turned into a prestigious seat for both Shibu Soren and his son Hemant Soren. Shibu Soren is being challenged in his bastion by JVM-P president Marandi.

The Dumka Lok Sabha seat has witnessed interesting fight in the past.

The BJP promoted Marandi as tribal leader and he became chief minister post when the state was carved out of Bihar in 2000.

Marandi was defeated by Soren in 1991 and 1996. Marandi defeated Shibu Soren in 1998 and Rupi Soren, Shibu Soren’s wife, in 1999.

Now Marandi finds himself, once again, running against Shibu Soren, with 16 years having passed since their last encounter.

Marandi, a sitting MP from the Koderma Lok Sabha seat, opted this time to fight from Dumka.

The Santhal pargana, under which six districts fall, constitutes three Lok Sabha seats.

The Dumka seat result will affect the party’s prospect as assembly polls are scheduled for November-December this year.

The political fate of Hemant Soren also depends on outcome of the Dumka seat. Hemant Soren is a legislator from Dumka and large number of JMM legislators come from Santhal pargana region. Marandi is also addressing three to four rallies daily to woo voters.

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners such as the Congress and the RJD are campaigning vigorously for the third phase of the poll.

The BJP won three of the seats, except Dumka, in 2009.