The move signals real issues within the INDIA bloc—not a very good sign ahead of the high-stake polls
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections independently, distancing itself from allies in the INDIA bloc — the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The party also indicated it would reconsider its alliance with these parties in Jharkhand after the Bihar elections.
Speaking to the media, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the party will field candidates in six constituencies — Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui, and Pirpainti (SC) — which poll in the second phase on November 11. Bhattacharya said the JMM had communicated its dissatisfaction with the seat-sharing arrangement to INDIA bloc leaders
The party reportedly demanded 12 seats and warned it would go solo if not allotted a “respectable” share. “We had requested seat adjustments from our alliance partners — the Congress, Left parties, and the RJD, which is a major player in Bihar. In the 2019 Jharkhand elections, we supported them, giving RJD seven seats and even accommodating their MLA from Chatra as a minister,” he was quoted as saying.
Describing the upcoming Bihar contest as a multi-cornered battle, he said both the NDA and INDIA bloc are both grappling with internal tensions. “We will fight, we will win, and we will ensure no government is formed in Bihar without the JMM,” Bhattacharya asserted, also indicating that the party may revisit its alliance strategy in Jharkhand after the Bihar elections.
The JMM’s decision to contest six Bihar Assembly seats independently is a setback for the Mahagathbandhan alliance, risking splitting the opposition vote in key constituencies, potentially aiding the NDA by weakening anti-incumbency momentum. The move signals real issues within the INDIA bloc—not a very good sign ahead of the high-stake polls.
This development damages the Mahagathbandhan’s image of unity, especially as other partners like the Left have also expressed discontent over seat distribution, say observers. In contrast, the NDA has projected a stable front with a finalized seat-sharing deal. “If more regional allies begin asserting independence, the opposition’s ability to present a united national front could weaken further. In a closely contested election, even a few thousand diverted votes per seat could shift outcomes — making JMM’s solo contest a strategically significant move with broader consequences,” they add.
