Ranchi: With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for the Bihar Assembly polls, talks on seat-sharing under the INDIA bloc are expected to gain momentum. However, the number of seats Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will contest has not yet been decided.
According to sources, a crucial meeting on seat allocation will take place in Patna on Tuesday, where JMM central general secretary Vinod Pandey and minister Sudivya Sonu will represent the party. Speaking to Reporter Post ahead of the meeting, Pandey said the party would hold detailed discussions on its participation in the election. “We will talk with our alliance partners about contesting from constituencies where JMM has a strong base and a realistic chance of winning. All developments from the meeting will be shared with party president Hemant Soren,” he said.
When asked about the number of seats the party expects, Pandey said the decision would be taken after thorough discussions following the meeting. This will be the first time JMM representatives participate in a seat-sharing discussion for the Bihar elections, as the party had so far remained absent from earlier meetings of the grand alliance.
Earlier, Chief Minister Hemant Soren had attended the closing ceremony of a rally led by Rahul Gandhi in Bihar and met RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav during the visit. JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya had also stated in a press conference that the party would play an active role in ensuring the grand alliance’s victory in Bihar.