Patna/Ranchi: The simmering tensions over seat allocation within Bihar’s Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) finally boiled over with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the ruling party of neighboring Jharkhand, unilaterally announcing its decision to contest the elections alone.
JMM General Secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya confirmed the party would field candidates in six specific Assembly constituencies: Chakai, Dhamdha, Katoria (SC), Manihari (SC), Jamui, and Pirpainti.
The decision was delivered with sharp rhetoric, laying the blame squarely on the shoulders of the key alliance members, specifically the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
“The wait has come to an end. We had a discussion in Patna, and they assured us that they would give us seats according to our capacity. But ultimately, we were betrayed,” said JMM leader Manoj Pandey from Ranchi. “Now it is too late; we cannot compromise on our self-respect. Somewhere, the alliance has begun to unravel.”
The JMM also pointed to its loyalty in the past, noting the party allocated six seats and a ministerial post to the RJD in the Jharkhand elections, arguing that the lack of reciprocal respect in Bihar was “sad and unfortunate.”
The Failed Ultimatum and the 5% Formula
The independent move comes just after the JMM had issued a public ultimatum. A week earlier, on October 12th, the JMM had staked claim to 12 seats—a number derived from their calculation that they deserved 5% of Bihar’s 243 seats, mirroring the 5% they had previously given to the RJD in Jharkhand.
Bhattacharya had called upon the Grand Alliance leadership to finalize an “honorable agreement” by October 15, making it clear that the party would not stand with its “hands tied.” With no resolution reached by the deadline, the party moved ahead with its independent announcement, demonstrating that its threat to disrupt the alliance was serious.
While the current list includes six seats, the JMM leaders warned that this number could “increase further,” and suggested that the fate of the post-poll alliance could also be “reviewed” depending on the results. Voting for the six announced JMM seats is scheduled for the second phase on November 11.
A Wider Crack in the Opposition Façade
The JMM’s independent campaign threatens to fragment the opposition vote, potentially aiding the NDA in close contests across the targeted seats.
The announcement also follows other signs of internal discord within the Grand Alliance. On the same day, another critical partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation [CPI(ML)L], released its own list of 20 candidates. Notably, the CPI(ML)L is fielding all 12 of its sitting MLAs and targeting new seats where it sees a chance of victory, underlining that partners are operating on their own terms rather than a unified strategy.
