In a significant political development ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has decided to contest independently on 19 seats after failing to reach a seat-sharing agreement with the Indian National Congress.
JMM General Secretary and spokesperson Vinod Pandey said that negotiations with Congress did not materialise. Hopes of a possible alliance had prompted JMM supremo and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to travel to Delhi on Sunday, but discussions failed to yield any breakthrough.
Assam is currently ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Congress serves as the principal opposition in the state. Given that Congress and JMM are alliance partners in Jharkhand, there had been widespread speculation that the two parties would collaborate in Assam as well.
However, with no agreement reached, both parties are now expected to face off in at least 19 constituencies.
Following the collapse of talks, JMM has begun distributing party symbols to its candidates. Party leaders, including minister Chamara Linda and Vinod Pandey, handed over the symbol to candidate Preeti Rekha Barla, while symbols have also been issued to other nominees. Monday marks the last date for filing nominations.
According to Pandey, JMM will field candidates in 19 constituencies, while leaving one seat for Left parties. Talks between JMM and Congress over seat-sharing had been ongoing for some time but remained inconclusive.
Recently, senior Congress leaders Bhanwar Jitendra Singh and Gaurav Gogoi had visited Ranchi and met Hemant Soren in an effort to finalize the arrangement.
Meanwhile, JMM has secured its traditional “bow and arrow” election symbol from the Election Commission for the Assam polls. Party leaders have expressed confidence about putting up a strong fight and establishing a political presence in the state.
The Assam Assembly comprises 126 seats, a significant number of which are reserved for Scheduled Tribes, making them crucial in determining the political landscape of the state.
Also read: BJP, JMM lock horns over Soren’s remarks on religious practices
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