Sanadi Hansda, a 36-year-old tribal woman, on Wednesday filed her nomination for a Birbhum zilla parishad seat at Mohammedbazar, as an Independent, representing the Adivasi Adhikar Mahasabha, which has been at the forefront of the movement against the proposed Deocha-Pachami coal mine for past two years.

The mother of two went to the Suri SDO office and filed her nomination papers, vowing to fight the Trinamul-led government that is trying to relocate them to set up the coal mine.

“I urge people of my area to vote for me to strengthen the demand to scrap the coal mine project that would endanger our lives and livelihoods. We want to live on our own land, with basic amenities like drinking water supply, electricity, good roads and schools,” said Hansda, a villager in the project area, after filing her papers.

Hansda will contest from the zilla parishad’s seat 26, which covers coal mine project areas such as Hinglo, Charicha and Bharkata gram panchayats.

Trinamul's Swarnalata Soren is pitted against Hansda.

A Trinamul leader claimed the party was not worried about Hansda, as they were confident of Soren's victory.

Mahasabha convener Jagannath Tudu said they would field around six more persons as Independents against Trinamul in the two other tiers on Thursday.

CPM leaders in Birbhum said they would negotiate seats with the tribal outfit and fight jointly against Trinamul.

BJP district chief Dhruba Saha said they would discuss this development internally.