'India' Faces a Rift: JMM to Contest Bihar Alone on Six Seats Under Hemant Soren

Bihar Elections 2025: Before the Bihar Assembly elections in 2025, the opposition has suffered a major setback. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), led by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, has decided to contest the elections alone. The party has announced to field candidates on at least six seats. Not only this, but this step has become a problem for the Grand Alliance, because JMM has also indicated it will review the alliance with Congress and RJD in Jharkhand.

In a press conference held in Patna, JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that despite several rounds of talks with the alliance leaders regarding seat sharing, no respectable proposal was received. "The party has decided to go solo in the Bihar elections. We will contest six assembly seats—Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui and Peerpainti (SC)," Bhattacharya said. 

When asked if more seats were being considered in Bihar, he replied, "We are discussing the matter...the number of seats may increase by 10."

Decision after threat of 12 seats

This decision comes after the ultimatum issued by JMM on October 11. The party had warned the 'India' leaders that if 12 seats were not given by October 14, they would take their own decision. 12 seats were demanded as allies in the alliance. Bhattacharya claimed, "We will fight, win and ensure that no government is formed in Bihar without JMM."

Referring to the internal contradictions in the alliances, Bhattacharya said, "The situation is different everywhere. Why is the Congress fighting against the RJD? Why is the CPI fighting against the VIP? The election strategies keep changing..." He further added, "There are contradictions in both the NDA and the Grand Alliance for the Bihar elections... We will review the alliance in Jharkhand."

JMM said it had approached all the constituents of the Mahagathbandhan—RJD, Congress, and especially RJD as it is the largest regional party there. "Through them, we informed the Congress high command about our chosen seats, where our workers have been fighting against the JDU-BJP alliance for a long time... In Jharkhand in 2019, we supported RJD and Congress. We gave them our seats. Not just giving seats to RJD. Made a candidate who won from Chatra out of seven seats a minister for five years," he clarified.

Star campaigner list: Soren family ahead, 20 names announced

To strengthen the electoral front, JMM released a list of 20 star campaigners for Bihar elections, which will be led by party president and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. Other prominent names include CM's wife and Gandey MLA Kalpana Soren, Dumka MLA Basant Soren, and senior leaders Stephen Marandi and Sarfaraz Ahmed. The list seems to combine family influence and tribal-regional strength, which will target JMM's vote bank in the eastern and tribal areas of Bihar.

Reactions: NDA happy, opposition upset

This announcement has brought enthusiasm in the NDA camp. BJP leaders are calling it "protection of Bihar," while the talk of seat sharing in the grand alliance is stuck. There is no formal response from Congress and RJD yet, but analysts believe that this move could weaken the alliance's unity on tribal and minority-dominated seats. Election preparations are in full swing for 243 seats in Bihar, where the nomination process for the first phase is going on. Is this a temporary rebellion by JMM or the beginning of a major restructuring?