JMM plans to contest on 12 Bihar seats with Congress & RJD

RANCHI: JMM, the strongest partner of the grand alliance in Jharkhand, wants the alliance to continue in the upcoming Bihar election. Of the 243 constituencies, the tribal party is planning to contest on 12 seats.
Congress sources said the party is also willing to fight the election in the neighbouring state under the mahagathbandhan, but a decision will be taken only after the election dates are announced and the party representatives hold a formal discussion in this regard.
State RJD president Abhay Singh indicated that the idea of contesting in Bihar polls with Congress is almost final and the party would have no objection in including JMM or any other like-minded political groups it can put a strong fight in the election.
Talking to TOI, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the party has promising candidates for at least 50 constituencies in Bihar. “If under any circumstances we have to contest the election alone, we are going to field candidates on 43 seats,” he added.
The party has started strategising and preparing under the leadership of JMM president Shibu Soren. “Keeping in mind the outbreak, we have not yet decided the extent of his physical involvement in the meetings and campaign, but senior leaders will soon take a call in this regard,” he said.
The Congres state unit is also preparing to engage leaders and workers for the election. JPCC vice-president Rajesh Thakur said Jharkhand and Bihar share a common history and, with the alliance is working properly in Jharkhand, they would be eager to continue in Bihar as well. “Grand alliance indicates unity of the anti-BJP parties and if we can fight the Bihar polls with JMM and RJD, the message to the masses will be clear that a secular government would be formed to take forward people’s aspirations,” he added.
Singh said that the decision of fighting the Bihar election as part of the mahagathbandhan will taken at the national-level. “We are there to execute whatever is decided by the party president Lalu Prasad. We are going to keep a list of star campaigners and workers to be engaged in the election process,” he added.