Jharkhand Elections: RJD won’t sabotage INDIA bloc, even if it goes solo

Ranchi, October 20: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Sunday reiterated its disappointment with INDIA bloc allies Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) over seat sharing for Jharkhand assembly elections but stressed it will not sabotage INDIA bloc prospects.

RJD Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha said the party would not settle for less than 12 seats, but it will not sabotage the prospects of the INDIA bloc even if it goes solo.

Lalu Prasad Yadav fought in seven seats in 2019 to oust the BJP from power. Now the party is strong in 22 seats and the leaders are ready to face jail than espousing BJP before any elections, he said.

“RJD is a symbol of opposition to BJP. Our party and leaders don’t play hide-and-seek with BJP. We will win the battle, not even one of our MLAs was shaken by the BJP’s temptation. We will not let the alliance’s boat sink. Hemant Soren has to become the Chief Minister as you should not ignore the mass leader,” Jha said.

It seems the disappointment over the seat-sharing formula announced by the INDIA Alliance a day ago without consulting RJD despite Tejaswi Yadav’s presence in Ranchi is yet to dissipate as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Congrees state in-charge Ghulam Ahemned Mir met Yadav in person to salvage the damage.

Jha said RJD went to Soren’s residence and after a very cordial talk, a one-sided announcement was made. The behaviour of a leader present in the meeting was unexpected. If the party gets 12-14 seats, they will help the alliance partners in 60-62 seats. Without an agreement, the party would declare the names of the candidates for the 19 seats on Monday.

“Less than 12-13 seats are not acceptable to us as the RJD has a strong hold on 18-20 seats. If we are asked to contest three seats, we are not ready to make any sacrifices. Our sole aim is to defeat BJP, we will not sabotage the INDIA bloc,” he said.

On Saturday, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren announced that his party JMM and Congress will contest 70 out of 81 seats. Last time, RJD had contested seven seats and won one seat. Its MLA Satyanand Bhokta is a minister in the Hemant Soren cabinet.

Soren further mentioned that the remaining seats would be contested by other parties in the INDIA alliance, with ongoing discussions involving the RJD and Left parties.

The elections to 81-member Jharkhand assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.

The BJP-led NDA is in direct contest with the ruling INDIA coalition in the tribal-dominated state.

The BJP is contesting 68 seats, while Sudesh Mahto’s All Jharkhand Students’ Union (AJSU) is contesting 10 seats, while JD-U is fielding candidates in two seats, and LJP (Ram Vilas) in one seat.