Hemant Soren's party eyes 7 seats as INDIA bloc navigates seat-sharing talks
Jharkhand has a total of 14 Lok Sabha constituencies and JMM is eyeing seven seats in the state, as per sources.
The Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leaders held a discussion on seat-sharing in Jharkhand during the INDIA bloc meeting held on Saturday in Delhi. The meeting was attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
According to sources, the JMM is eyeing seven Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Jharkhand has a total of 14 Lok Sabha constituencies. In 2019 general elections, the BJP emerged victorious in 11, while its ally AJSU secured one seat. Both JMM and Congress have one seat each.
In a telephonic conversation with India Today TV, Rajesh Thakur, President of Jharkhand Congress, said that seat adjustment will not be an issue in Jharkhand. Thakur assured that the deal is expected to be finalised within 10 days. Both JMM and Congress leaders asserted their points and staked claims before Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, he added.
Rajesh Thakur emphasised that factors like winnability, preparedness, cadre base, strength, stronghold, pocket type, population type, and others will be considered before finalising the seat-sharing deal.
JMM General Secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey, who attended the INDIA bloc meeting and the seat-sharing discussion with colleagues Supriyo Bhattacharya and Minister Champai Soren, assured that allies under their umbrella would spare no effort for the victory of INDIA bloc candidates. JMM and Congress are not contesting, INDIA is contesting, Pandey said.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Alamgir Alam, after Saturday's meeting, stated that Congress would consider the interests of all allies. RJD and others are also part of the INDIA bloc, and seat sharing will be resolved amicably within 10 days.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that JMM is eyeing all five ST seats in Jharkhand—Singhbhum, Lohardaga, Khunti, Dumka, and Rajmahal. Additionally, it has staked claims on Jamshedpur and Giridih, leaving only seven seats for others.
In 2019, JMM contested four seats, Congress contested seven, RJD was allotted one, and two seats went to JVM. JVM has since merged with BJP and no longer exists. It's now evident that the seats previously allocated to JVM will be used to accommodate the demands of other allies, with JMM and Congress expected to secure a significant share.
Till now, the JMM has played a secondary role in Lok Sabha and a leading role in Assembly polls. But after more than four years in power, albeit with Congress support, JMM is poised to negotiate for a greater number of seats than in 2019.