JMM, Cong, RJD join hands for J’khand polls

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress on Friday announced that the two parties would contest the upcoming election for Jharkhand assembly in association with the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) or JVM (P) pulled out of the proposed opposition alliance earlier this week and said it would contest all 81 assembly seats.

The JVM (P)’s exit is blow for the alliance which was hoping to repeat the grouping in place during the Lok Sabha polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Partyled NDA won 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

However, questions remain about the RJD’s enthusiasm for the alliance after leader of opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, did not join the press briefing addressed by JMM and Congress leaders at the press club here. Yadav did attend the meeting of the three alliance constituents held at the residence of Hemant Soren, ahead of the joint press conference, Congress and JMM leaders said.

Announcing the seat sharing arrangement in presence of JMM working president, Hemant

Soren, Jharkhand Congress in-charge RPN Singh said the JMM would contest 43 of the 81 assembly seats, the Congress, 31 and the RJD, 7. Singh also announced that Hemant Soren, a former chief minister, would be the chief ministerial face of the proposed opposition alliance.

The three parties decided not to partner with the Left parties. The earlier plan was to form a grand alliance with them.

“We have put forth an alternative before the people to remove the BJP from power, irrespective of it being called an alliance or a grand alliance,” Singh said, replying to question over reduction in number of the alliance partners as proposed earlier.

Defending the absence of RJD from the presser, Hemant Soren said talks are still on with the RJD leadership and everything will fall in place soon.

On the issue of options still left for adjustment of few seats for the Left, Soren said “many such issues will be settled in due course”.

Senior RJD leader Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, in-charge of Jharkhand, played down the absence of Yadav at the presser and said it would not affect the alliance. “It is not a big issue... there are some issues over seat sharing of few seats. But we will sort them out ,” he said.