JMM Exits Opposition Alliance to Contest Bihar Elections Independently

Hemant Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha announced today that it would contest the Bihar elections independently, creating another division within the Opposition Grand Alliance.

The party was explicit about its confrontational stance. "We will fight very strongly. We will not go for any 'friendly' fight. Enemy is enemy," declared Supriyo Bhattacharya, the party's general secretary.

He further explained, "Our workers have struggled in Bihar for the last 10 years. So for them, we will contest these polls. We have also some pressure from our organization. Hence we have decided to go alone in the Bihar election."

The JMM, a member of the INDIA bloc, was expected to receive seat allocations in the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, particularly since both Congress and Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal are coalition partners in the Jharkhand government.

However, Tejashwi Yadav's RJD and ally Congress have thus far failed to reach an agreement on seat distribution. The two parties have begun fielding candidates unilaterally, creating conditions for "friendly contests" across the state.

Earlier today, the Congress party - which had been demanding 70 seats, many with strong winning prospects - reiterated that it is not supporting the younger Yadav for the chief ministerial position should they win.

"The Chief Ministerial face will be announced at an appropriate time," stated Congress's senior leader Pawan Khera. Then, suggesting that reconciliation between the parties is unlikely, he added, "In constituencies where more than one Grand Alliance candidate has filed nomination, one nomination will be withdrawn within one to two days."

According to news agency Press Trust of India, the JMM leader revealed that the party would contest six assembly seats: Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui, and Pirpainti.

Elections to the 243-seat Bihar assembly are scheduled for November 6 and November 11. All seats the JMM plans to contest will be included in the second phase of voting.

Vote counting will take place on November 14.