Trouble in alliance? RJD says less than 12 seats unacceptable in Jharkhand

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has voiced strong discontent over the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections within the INDIA alliance. On Saturday, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress announced that they would contest 70 out of 81 seats, leaving only 11 for other partners, sparking frustration in the RJD. On Sunday, RJD MP Manoj Jha made it clear that the party would not accept fewer than 12-13 seats, citing the party’s significant presence in 18-20 constituencies across the state.

Jha expressed disappointment over the "unilateral" seat-sharing announcement, claiming RJD had been excluded from discussions. He emphasized that the RJD had identified at least 15-18 seats where they believe they can independently defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He further pointed out that in the 2019 Jharkhand elections, RJD contested seven seats, winning one, and finishing second in five others. Jha stated that sidelining the RJD in the current seat-sharing arrangement could alienate a key voting bloc and hurt the alliance’s chances against the BJP.

Despite this dissatisfaction, Jha reiterated that the RJD’s primary objective remains defeating the BJP. He assured that the party would not undermine the INDIA alliance, even if forced to contest independently. If it comes to that, RJD would still support INDIA alliance candidates on 60-62 seats, reflecting the party's commitment to the broader goal of removing the BJP from power in Jharkhand.

Jha’s comments came after discussions with senior RJD leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, who had convened a meeting in Ranchi to strategize the party’s approach. Jha noted that RJD has the organizational strength and voter support to perform well in Jharkhand, but he warned that failing to respect the party's demands could impact overall alliance cohesion.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who heads the JMM, had announced that his party would contest 43 seats, while Congress would field candidates in 27 constituencies. This left only 11 seats unallocated for other allies like RJD and the Left parties. With RJD now demanding a larger share, negotiations within the alliance are expected to intensify.

In the 2019 elections, RJD won one seat and played a crucial role in forming the government under JMM’s leadership. The party’s sole MLA, Satyanand Bhokta, currently holds a ministerial position in Hemant Soren's cabinet. With a solid track record and influence in key constituencies, RJD believes it deserves a larger share of seats in the 2024 elections.