As the last day to file nominations for the second phase of assembly elections in Bihar ended on Monday, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha sprang a surprise by not announcing candidates in any seats. The JMM had earlier declared its intentions to contest alone in six to 10 seats after a fallout with allies in the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan.
The JMM had sought six seats in Bihar, but was not given any, considering how the party failed to win any in the 2020 Assembly elections. This infuriated Soren, who announced that he would contest alone. The JMM is part of the INDI Alliance, along with Congress and the RJD.
However, candidates who visited the party office in Ranchi, hoping for tickets, received no clear answer, leaving them disappointed. Party supporters questioned why the party announced it in the media if it wasn't going to contest the elections alone, according to local media reports.
That said, speculations are that Soren could take revenge on RJD by reshuffling his Cabinet.
Senior party leaders believe that the snub was a matter of self-respect for the JMM, and this could impact the ruling coalition's alignment in Jharkhand. Rumours are rife that the JMM could review the alliance after the Bihar elections, and the RJD will have to pay the price for the snub. Soren could remove Sanjay Prasad Yadav, MLA from Godda, from the Cabinet, according to local media reports.
Party central general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya’s statement that it was important to reflect on what happened in Bihar is an indication of this, according to political analysts. "We requested the constituents of the India alliance, such as the Congress, the Left parties, and the RJD, one of Bihar's largest parties, to give us the seats. In the 2019 Jharkhand elections, we supported the Congress and the RJD. The party not only gave the RJD seven seats but also made its MLA from Chatra a minister," Bhattacharya told reporters the other day.
Bhattacharya added that in the 2024 Jharkhand elections, the JMM gave six seats to the RJD and appointed one MLA as a minister.
Hemant Soren's party holds 34 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly, followed by the Congress with 16 MLAs. A majority in the 81-seat Jharkhand Assembly requires 42 seats, which, with the addition of the Congress, would be 50. He also has the support of the Left parties. Therefore, if Hemant Soren wishes, he can easily expel the RJD and its minister, Sanjay Prasad Yadav.
