INDIA bloc to fight Jharkhand elections together, JMM-Congress to contest 70 of 81 seats: CM Hemant Soren

The opposition INDIA alliance will contest the upcoming assembly elections in the Indian state of Jharkhand together, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced on Saturday (Oct 19), adding that his Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress will contest 70 of 81 seats in the state assembly.

"INDIA bloc will contest the Jharkhand Assembly polls together. It has been decided that 70 seats in the state will be contested by the JMM and Congress. The rest of the seats will be discussed further," Soren said.

"We can't go into the details of the seat-sharing right now. Our alliance partner is not here right now. When they are here, we will finalise the number of seats and other details," he added.

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The seat-sharing talks are underway with other alliance partners, includingRashtriya Janata Dal(RJD) and Left parties, for the remaining 11 segments.

BJP announces first list of 66 candidates

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its first list of 66 candidates for the upcoming Jharkhand polls, with party fielding its state president Babulal Marandi from Dhanwar and former chief minister Champai Soren from Saraikela.

Jharkhand will be voting in two phases on November 13 and 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.

In the last assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha as part of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) contested for 43 seats, Congress (31) and the RJD had seven seats in the 81-member assembly.

The JMM however, is expected to increase its share because it believes that Hemant Soren is a key face in Jharkhand and the grand alliance will get votes on his name, the party said.

Jharkhand minister and Congress leader Banna Gupta said that the INDIA alliance is doing its work smoothly and people will vote to continue the ruling coalition government in the state.

"Our in charge, (state) president, CLP leader together sat down with INDIA Alliance team. Everything has become very systematic. There is no 'if or but' anywhere. INDIA Alliance is doing its work smoothly. We say this very confidently that the people of Jharkhand will give a chance once again to the INDIA Alliance government led by Hemant Soren," Guptasaid.

RJD expressed discontent over seat-sharing

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) expressed discontent over the seat sharing with its INDIA bloc allies Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) for the Jharkhand assembly elections.

“We have come before you for a special reason. You can see that our entire leadership is here at the request of our leader of opposition Tejashwi ji. We had a meeting this morning and it was decided in that meeting that the strength of votes and the mass base is in favor of RJD,” party MP Manoj Jha said as pernews agency ANI.

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“For example, let me tell you that last time we fought on 7 seats because Lalu ji had a big heart, his goal was to oust the BJP, and the goal is the same even today, we were runner-up on 5 seats. The rest of our alliance partners may not have been runners-up in percentage terms on that many seats...A unilateral decision was taken,” the RJD ministerclaimed.

“Our presence in different districts is very strong, we will urge our alliance partners to take a decision accordingly. Our in-charge is here, our state president is here and since yesterday our leader of opposition Tejashwi ji himself is here...Despite everyone being there, if you did not involve us in the process of allying, then it is painfully...In the meeting that we had today, we have identified 15 to 18 such seats in different districts where we are probably capable of defeating the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)even alone,” Gupta added.

“All options open for us. All decisions cannot be taken instantly like '2 minutes' noodles,” Indian news agency PTI quoted Jha as saying.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera,when asked about RJD's displeasure over seat sharing, told ANI, "There is no resentment or displeasure from anyone."

(With inputs from agencies)