Jharkhand polls: INDIA bloc joins forces for ‘friendly fight’ for three assembly seats

INDIA’s bloc partners in Jharkhand are ready for a “friendly fight” on three seats in the upcoming assembly elections, bloc leaders said.

JMM and CPI-ML have already decided to have a friendly fight in Dhanwar Assembly seat, while Congress and RJD are still trying to avoid a friendly fight in Chhattarpur and Bishrampur seats.

The elections to the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with counting of votes taking place on November 23.

As many as 1,211 candidates are in the fray for the 81 seats in the Assembly after the completion of withdrawal of nominations for both phases of the elections.

The JMM has fielded candidates on 43 Assembly seats, Congress on 30 seats, RJD on six and CPI-ML on four seats.

“JMM, Congress, RJD and CPI-ML are jointly contesting the Jharkhand polls under the INDIA bloc. Barring three seats – Chhatarpur, Bishrampur and Dhanwar – seat-sharing arrangements have been made for all constituencies in the alliance. The JMM has decided to go for a friendly contest with CPI-ML in Dhanwar seat,” JMM General Secretary Vinod Pandey told reporters.

RJD and Congress have fielded their candidates from Chhatarpur and Bishrampur seats.

“Discussions are still on to resolve the issue with both seats. We hope to see an outcome in a day or two,” Pandey said.

Pandey said RJD got six seats while CPI-ML got three seats under INDIA bloc.

Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh said they would contest the elections together and form India’s ruling bloc again.

The INDIA bloc has not yet officially announced its seat-sharing arrangements.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said on October 19 that the INDIA bloc will contest the upcoming assembly elections together and the Congress and the JMM will nominate candidates for 70 of the 81 seats.

There are 11 seats left for RJD and the Left parties, he said.