JMM, Cong seal pact in Jharkhand
RJD leaders remain absent in joint press briefing ■
Ranchi, Nov. 8: The Opposition alliance on Friday declared seat-sharing arrangement for the Jharkhand Assembly polls as per which the JMM will contest 43 seats, Congress 31 and RJD in seven constituencies, in the face of perceived resentment by Lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav. The pact was announced by AICC in-charge R.P.N. Singh at a press meet along with JMM working president Hemant Soren.
Amid political turmoil over the seat-sharing formula in Jharkhand grand alliance, senior congress leader R.P.N. Singh on Friday said, “The grand alliance will contest the polls under the leadership of JMM working president Hemant Soren and he will also be our CM candidate.”
He further declared that there will no “friendly contest” on any of the seats and “anybody fighting against official candidates will face action from their respective parties”.
He made the statement while announcing seatsharing pact for the Assembly polls which will be held in five phases between November and December.
As per the formula announced during a joint press briefing on Friday, the JMM would be contesting on 43 of the 81 seats, the Congress 31 and RJD has been given 7 seats.
In the current legislative Assembly, the JMM, with 19 MLAs, is the secondlargest party while the Congress, which had contested on all 81 seats in the previous polls, has 8 members.
The seat-sharing pact between alliance partners was announced in the absence of RJD leaders. Sources said that Tejashwi Yadav was upset with JMM for rejecting his
demand for Bisrampur seat which has been given to the Congress.
When asked about RJD’s absence from the event, JMM leader Hemant Soren said, “Lalu Yadav is aware of the scenario and in case he raises questions regarding the formula or seat adjustments we will clear all his doubts.”
He also rejected the speculations regarding rift in the grand-alliance over the seat-sharing pact. During the event, Mr Soren also said that RJD chief Lalu Yadav is a victim of vendetta politics and is being treated like a terrorist.
Reports, however, suggest that JMM-Congress alliance may face tough challenges from a political opponent Babulal Marandi’s party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatant-rik) which is planning to contest on all 81 seats alone.
The JVM (P) had contested from Godda constituency as grand alliance member during the Lok Sabha polls. However, Mr Marandi’s differences over a seat-sharing pact with JMM leader Hemant Soren led to a split in the opposition alliance.