The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a key ruling party in Jharkhand, has made a significant announcement: it will not be participating in the forthcoming Assembly elections in neighboring Bihar. This decision, according to the JMM, stems from a “political conspiracy” allegedly hatched by its own allies, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Congress, who supposedly denied the JMM its fair share of seats within the broader Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance).
During a press briefing, senior JMM leader Sudivya Kumar expressed the party’s strong dissatisfaction. He stated that the JMM would undertake a thorough review of its existing alliance in Jharkhand with both the Congress and the RJD, promising a “befitting reply” to what they perceive as a significant slight.
This dramatic withdrawal comes just days after the JMM, led by Hemant Soren, had initially declared its intention to contest the Bihar elections independently. At that time, the party had planned to field candidates in six Assembly segments, following the breakdown of initial seat-sharing discussions.
“The RJD and the Congress bear full responsibility for politically conspiring to prevent the JMM from contesting these elections,” reiterated Kumar, who also serves as the state’s tourism minister. “The JMM will not take this lightly; we will respond appropriately and re-evaluate our ongoing alliance with both the RJD and the Congress.”
Previously, the JMM had named candidates for six specific seats: Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui, and Pirpainti. These constituencies were slated for polling in the second phase of the elections.
The deadline for filing nomination papers in these particular seats had fallen on the same day the JMM announced its withdrawal.