Chhatradhar Mahato,Independent,declares Rs 1 lakh

The assets Mahato declared totalled a little over Rs 1 lakh; the sum assured with his two insurance policies came to a total of Rs 75,000.

Jhargram returning officer C Murugan said the Election Commission would look into the organisation named in the nomination papers. If the nomination is finalised after scrutiny,Mahato would be treated as an Independent candidate.

Mahato reached the Jhargram election office escorted by jail officials and accompanied by his wife Neoti and a large number of supporters of the PCPA and similar organisations. After filing his nomination,he said he has faith in the democratic system.

Sources among the supporters who accompanied him said many organisations that support mass movements at Lalgarh would campaign for him. Mahato urged election officials to ensure security for his campaigners.

Mahato had approached the additional chief judicial magistrates court in Jhargram on April 6 for permission to contest. The court granted his plea and he collected his nomination papers on April 14.

Mahato had been arrested in September 2009 from Lalgarh and has been lodged in the Midnapore jail since then.

He has been charged with anti-national activities and involvement with the Maoists movement and Maoist outfits. He was implicated in 37 criminal cases and has since got bail in 31 of these.