Amid growing discontent within the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) partners, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has decided to stay away from campaigning for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
The decision came after JMM was reportedly denied a single seat to contest, deepening the rift within the alliance.
JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said, “If we are not contesting the elections, there is no reason for our star campaigner, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, to campaign there. Moreover, no formal invitation has been extended to him for campaigning.”
He added that the party leadership will take a decision if circumstances demand, but as of now, no such decision has been made.
Pandey further said, “We are not a part of the alliance in Bihar. If we were not given a chance, what would we campaign for? In Jharkhand, we are fulfilling our coalition responsibilities by running the government, but that is not the case in Bihar.”
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Congress leaders have expressed optimism that Hemant Soren would eventually campaign as a star campaigner in Bihar. They claimed that Congress leaders have already reached out to Soren and dismissed reports of any discord within the alliance, saying “all is well.”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been closely watching the situation, asserting that the Mahagathbandhan’s internal friction in Bihar will have repercussions in Jharkhand.
BJP spokesperson Ajay Sah said that Hemant Soren should safeguard his self-respect and sever ties with the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
He remarked that after the 2024 Assembly elections, JMM became overconfident and sought to expand nationally by entering Bihar politics. “Initially, they spoke of contesting 25 seats, then 12, then six — and now, not even one. Even in constituencies with significant tribal populations, the Congress and RJD have not invited Soren to campaign,” Sah said.
He urged the JMM to part ways with the RJD and Congress, stating, “If you still have any self-respect, show that dignity matters more than power. Only then will we believe you represent the spirit of Jharkhand.”
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