Mahagathbandhan: Congress to play ‘big brother’ role in LS polls, JMM to lead in Assembly elections

Ranchi: After three months of speculation the Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand finally announced its seat-sharing formula according to which the Congress party would be contesting seven seats followed by four by the JMM, a couple of seats for Babulal Marandi led JVM(P) and a single seat for the RJD. In a crowded press conference which was held at the residence of JMM supremo and Dumka MP Shibu Soren, the leaders of the Mahagathbandhan declared the seat-sharing formula however the names of the candidates on these seats as claimed by the parties would be declared shortly.

Briefing the press Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Dr Ajay Kumar said that to take on the anti-people policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Raghubar Das this grand alliance has been formed with the blessings of congress president Rahul Gandhi and approval of ‘Guruji’ and Babulal Marandi. “ In the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress being the big party will lead the charge while in the assembly elections Hemant Soren would be leading the campaign and JMM would be contesting the maximum number of seats,” he said.

Divulging the seat-sharing formula he said that the Congress party would be contesting Ranchi, Khunti, Lohardaga, West Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Chatra seats while JMM would be fielding its candidates on Dumka Rajmahal Giridih and Jamshedpur seats. Similarly, JVM(P) would be contesting from Koderma and Godda while RJD has been given the lone seat of Palamu. Dr Kumar pointed out that since the talks with the Left Parties in Jharkhand did not make any progress, therefore, they could not be made part of this alliance as they were requested to arrive on a consensus which they could not. However, he said that his party will try to keep the left parties together in the assembly elections. 

Pointing out other key decisions he said all the parties in the Mahagathbandhan have unanimously decided that in the Rajya Sabha polls of 2020 a candidate from the minority community would be sent to Rajya Sabha while any candidate who rebels against the party and goes to contest the polls would also be immediately sacked from that party, he said. Addressing the press Leader of Opposition JMM’s Hemant Soren said due to efforts of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Guruji and Babulal Marandi this Mahagathbandhan has been formed. He said that several rounds of talks were held in Delhi and Ranchi with Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders of the party after which finally this grand alliance came into shape.

Mr Soren said that the alliance will not only remove Narendra Modi from the centre but will also out throw Raghubar Das and the BJP from Jharkhand. He said that RJD has been given Palamu seat and all coalition partners would help the party in Palamu.” In the Lok Sabha elections Congress would be in the big brother role while in assembly elections JMM would lead,” he said. Over the issues of the minorities, he said that the party has been supportive of their demands. 

Mr Soren said that UPA has never set aside the minorities and has accommodated them at every possible level whether political or any other platform. However, in the present political situation where the BJP tries to indulge in polarisation of votes interest of one particular community or any other section will have to be sacrificed to prevent the BJP from coming back to power.