Lok Sabha elections 2019: Jharkhand Opposition seals seat-share deal

The proposed Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) of four parties — Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), and Rashtriya Janata Dal — against the Bharatiya Janata Party in Jharkhand officially declared its seat-sharing deal on Sunday, even as RJD skipped the formal announcement event, sore over the single seat it has been given.

No RJD representative was present at the joint press conference organised by the Grand Alliance partners at the residence of JMM supremo Shibu Soren. As per the deal, this is how the state’s 14 Lok Sabha were divvied up — the Congress got seven; JMM four; JVM(P) two; RJD one. As things stand now, the ruling BJP has 12 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand, and JMM has two (Rajmahal and Dumka).

The seat breakup: the Congress got Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, West Singhbhum, Hazaribag, Chatra, and Dhanbad; JMM got Dumka, Rajmahal, Giridih, and Jamshedpur; JVM(P) got Koderma and Godda; RJD got Palamu.

RJD state general secretary Sanjay Yadav Singh told HT, “Our party has already made its stand clear: that it would contest from two seats, Chatra and Palamu, and we won’t compromise on this. That’s why neither did any RJD member take part in the joint press meet nor did we sign the consent letter for seat sharing.” He hinted that the party might go for a “friendly contest”, if the Chatra seat was not offered to RJD.

In fact, after the GA announcement, RJD held its own press meet on Sunday and Sanjay Yadav Singh declared that if the party was absolutely denied two seats by its allies, it might think of contesting all the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand.

GA partners are, however, confident of persuading RJD to accept the seat-sharing formula. “RJD is not ready for the formula right now; talks are on for a consensus. Leaders from JMM, JVM(P) and the Congress are discussing to settle the issue,” said Jharkhand Congress president Ajoy Kumar. About the “friendly contest”, Kumar categorically stated that no member from the Grand Alliance would be allowed a friendly contest from any seat in Jharkhand.

Minority candidates

Muslim candidates may miss a Lok Sabha ticket this year. The GA partners hinted that any candidate from the minority community might not get a 2019 Lok Sabha election ticket, but that the community would get priority in the 2020 Rajya Sabha election.

“We support the demand of the minority community for its representation in Lok Sabha. The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) has never ignored their demand. In case we can’t give representation to the minority community in Lok Sabha, the community will get priority in elections for Rajya Sabha,” said JMM working president Hemant Soren.

Confident allies

The GA partners have expressed their confidence about winning all the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand and routing the BJP. They said that the alliance would continue even in the Jharkhand assembly elections, to be held in winter this year.

The Lok Sabha polls would be contested under the leadership of the Congress, while the JMM would lead the assembly polls, reiterated the allies. Shibu Soren said, “The alliance was stitched firmly with the consent of all partners, keeping all aspects in mind.”

JVM(P) chief Babulal Marandi said, “The alliance is the need of the hour to protect our democracy. The BJP government at the Centre has destroyed all constitutional institutions such as the CBI, CVC, and even the judiciary. The alliance is required to set the rule law in the country.”

The BJP termed this “an alliance of opportunists”. BJP general secretary Deepak Prakash said, “The leaders of the so-called Grand Alliance might be happy, but their workers are not happy. Their workers will support the BJP to win. The people of Jharkhand also know their realities and the facts behind the alliance.”

First Published: Mar 24, 2019 23:29 IST