After being sidelined in seat-sharing negotiations during the Bihar Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has begun looking beyond Jharkhand to strengthen its presence in tribal-dominated regions of other states.
In line with this strategy, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren travelled to Assam on Tuesday, where Assembly elections are expected to be held around April.
Party insiders said the visit is aimed at assessing the political environment and exploring possibilities for contesting the upcoming polls.
During his stay, Soren is interacting with local party workers to evaluate organisational strength and discuss strategies for the elections. He is scheduled to stay in Assam overnight on March 10 and return to Ranchi on March 11.
As part of his engagements, the Chief Minister attended an Iftar programme near Tezpur in Sonitpur district and also addressed a gathering of JMM workers in Biswanath district.
This is not Soren’s first visit to the state in recent months. He had earlier travelled to Assam in February, when he highlighted the concerns of nearly seven million tribal people working in the tea gardens there, including members of the Munda, Oraon and Santhal communities.
On that occasion, he called for granting Scheduled Tribe status to these communities and assured them that their long-standing issues would be taken up.
Soren had also expressed solidarity with tribals of Jharkhand origin living in Assam, stating that people from Jharkhand would extend support to them if required.
Political observers believe that the Chief Minister’s repeated visits are closely linked to the upcoming Assembly elections in Assam. The JMM appears keen to consolidate support among tribal communities and migrants from Jharkhand residing in the state.
The move comes months after the party faced disappointment in neighbouring Bihar. Despite being part of the opposition alliance led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and supported by the Indian National Congress, the JMM was not allotted any seats in the Assembly polls.
The party subsequently opted out of the contest, alleging that its allies had denied it representation through a “political conspiracy”.
The JMM had earlier signalled its expansion plans during its 13th General Convention held in Ranchi in April last year. At the meeting, party leaders announced that the organisation would intensify political activities in select constituencies in Assam, Odisha, and West Bengal, with an eye on future elections.
Party leaders have also indicated plans to mobilise migrants from Jharkhand residing in these states to build a support base. As part of its broader strategy, the JMM is working to expand its organisational network across the country in a bid to transform itself from a regional force into a national political party.
Sources suggest that the party is considering opening offices in several states, including New Delhi, West Bengal, Assam and Chhattisgarh, though no official announcement has been made yet.
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