Political marriages and divorces on Jharkhand’s election menu

RANCHI: It’s breaking and making of alliances in Jharkhand before the assembly polls. The UPA broke up as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) walked away from the alliance and announced that it would contest all the 81 seats.

Failing to forge a grand alliance, the Congress cobbled up pacts with the RJD and JD(U) with 11 seats for the RJD and three for JD (U).

The JMM dumped the Congress when the national party demanded four seats of JMM and a few more where the regional party is strong. “How can we forego our sitting seats?” said JMM vice-president Hemant Soren. The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) has given nine seats to the Trinamool Congress with the intention of forging a third front without the BJP and Congress.

The BJP has given eight seats to the All Jharkhand Students Union Party and left one for its partner Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

With opposition parties questioning the poll pact between BJP and AJSU, discontent has been brewing in both camps. AJSU spokesperson Devsharan Bhagat said, “Party chief Sudesh Mahto joined hands with BJP to save his seat”.