Patna/Ranchi, October 18: In a significant political development, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has walked out of the INDI Alliance in Bihar and announced that it will contest six Assembly seats on its own.
The decision marks the first major crack within the opposition bloc ahead of the Bihar elections and could have wider implications for coalition politics in Jharkhand, where the same alliance runs the government.
The party will reportedly contest Chakai, Dhamdha, Katoria, Pirpainti, Manihari, and Jamui — all in the second phase of the polls. The decision came after the first phase of nominations closed, ending prolonged but inconclusive seat-sharing talks with alliance partners.
Initially, the JMM demanded 16 seats, later reducing its claim to 12. Recently, JMM General Secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey and Minister Sudibya Kumar Sonu visited Patna to discuss the issue with Tejashwi Yadav, Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, and other senior RJD leaders, but the talks failed to reach a settlement.
Following this, JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya had warned that if the party was not allotted 12 seats by October 15, it would go solo. After waiting two more days, the JMM made its decision on October 18.
Political observers say this move could strain ties between JMM and RJD beyond Bihar. In Jharkhand, the coalition government — comprising JMM (33 seats), Congress (16), RJD (4), and Left parties (2) — may remain stable, but coordination among allies could suffer.
The six seats chosen by JMM are considered areas of its influence, and its entry is expected to split votes within the alliance. Meanwhile, all eyes are now on how this Bihar break-up reshapes Jharkhand’s political balance in the days to come.
