JMM and Congress come closer towards finalising seat sharing for Vidhan Sabha polls

Ranchi: Post the below-par performance of the BJP during the recently concluded assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra the opposition camp has gathered strength in Jharkhand where elections are due next in the country as talks are underway between the JMM and the Congress to finalise that seat shearing.

The opposition parties in the state are of the view that if a mahagathbandhan is formed against the BJP then it would be tough for the ruling party to come back into power, therefore, the two prominent parties of the opposition the Congress and the JMM despite all their differences have inched closer to finalise the seat-sharing agreement.

Leaders of both the parties are making efforts to finalize the picture of the mahagathbandhan and they have decided to go jointly into the polls so that the division of the votes can be stopped and a major loss is caused to the BJP.

Highly placed sources in both the parties told this correspondent that talks between leader of opposition Hemant Soren and Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee chief Rameshwar Oraon has already taken place where it has been agreed that the parties would be going into the polls together and the responsibilities have been also distributed.

While the Congress party has taken the responsibility of holding talks with JVM led by former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and RJD of Lalu Prasad Yadav on the other hand the Jharkhand Mukti morcha will be holding talks with the Left parties in the state so that a final seat-sharing deal can be worked out and final stamp will be put during a meeting with the senior leaders in New Delhi.

The Congress party has taken its claim on 35 seats in the state whereas the JMM also wants to contest at least 40 seats and if deals with other parties can be worked out then the Congress might agree to contest on 30 seats and even JMM would be willing to let down one or two seats and it is widely expected that after the Chhath Puja the shape of mahagathbandhan will be coming out in the picture.