Amid growing tensions between the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over seat-sharing in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Congress unit has denied any role of the party in the dispute. The JMM, Jharkhand’s ruling party, recently announced that it would refrain from contesting the Bihar polls. The decision came in the wake of what the party described as a “political conspiracy” by its allies, RJD and Congress, which allegedly denied JMM its share of seats within the Mahagathbandhan alliance.
This announcement followed the party’s earlier statement that it would contest six assembly segments independently after seat-sharing negotiations failed.
Addressing the issue, Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari stressed that Congress should not be held responsible. “The seats demanded by the JMM in Bihar were under the RJD’s purview. Therefore, Congress has no role in the matter,” he said.
The minister, however, emphasised the strategic significance of JMM’s influence in Bihar’s border regions and urged Hemant Soren to engage in the campaign.
“This is the moment to unite against the BJP in Bihar and set aside differences. I appeal to Hemant Soren ji to come forward and support us in the elections. This is a collective fight,” Ansari added.
Senior Congress leader Pradeep Balmuchu also defended the party, noting that seat allocation decisions rested with the RJD. “In coalition politics, compromise is natural. As the leading partner, the RJD makes the final call, and allies work together to strengthen the alliance,” Balmuchu said.
The Bihar elections have sent ripples across Jharkhand’s political landscape, prompting the Congress and RJD to take swift steps to manage potential fallout within the state coalition.
Currently, the JMM holds five ministerial positions in Jharkhand, including Chief Minister Hemant Soren, with one seat vacant following the demise of Ramdas Soren.
The Congress controls four ministerial posts, while the RJD has one, occupied by Sanjay Prasad Yadav.
The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly requires 41 seats for a majority. At present, the ruling coalition comprises the JMM (34 seats), Congress (16), RJD (4), and CPI(M-L) (2), totalling 56 seats.
Even without the RJD, the government would retain 52 seats, comfortably above the majority, though experts warn that any confrontation with Congress could create political instability.
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