Hemant Soren’s JMM Stakes Claim to 12 Seats in Bihar Border Regions

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has set its sights on contesting at least 12 assembly seats in the tribal-dominated border regions of Bihar for the upcoming state elections, a senior party leader revealed on Friday. As a key member of the INDIA bloc, the regional powerhouse is gearing up for intense negotiations with alliance partners to secure its share of the electoral pie, with a final decision expected within days.

Vinod Kumar Pandey, JMM’s general secretary, told PTI that the party has already staked its claim during a recent strategy session in Patna with INDIA bloc leaders, including representatives from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). “We’ve communicated our intent to contest around 12 seats in areas close to Jharkhand, where our tribal voter base is strong,” Pandey said, listing constituencies like Tarapur, Katoria, Manihari, Jhajha, Pirpainti, Thakurganj, Banka, Rupauli, Chakai, Jamalpur, Banmankhi, and Ramnagar. These seats, hugging the Jharkhand-Bihar border, are seen as fertile ground for JMM’s brand of tribal-focused politics, which has long resonated in Jharkhand’s hinterlands.

The decision on JMM’s final tally of seats rests with Jharkhand Chief Minister and party leader Hemant Soren, who is expected to hammer out the details in a forthcoming meeting with INDIA bloc allies. Pandey emphasized that the seat-sharing deal, critical to avoiding vote splits against the formidable National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is likely to be sealed within a day or two. The Bihar assembly elections, covering 243 seats, are slated for November 6 and 11, with results to be announced on November 14, making the timing of these talks critical.

Also Read: Marandi Announces NDA United Offensive to Win Ghatshila Seat in Jharkhand

However, sources within the RJD, a heavyweight in the INDIA bloc, suggest a potential sticking point: the RJD is reportedly willing to cede only up to five seats to JMM, far short of the dozen the JMM is eyeing. This discrepancy could spark tense bargaining, as both parties navigate their ambitions in a state where caste and regional dynamics dominate. The JMM’s push into Bihar follows a reciprocal gesture in the 2024 Jharkhand polls, where the JMM-led alliance allocated six of 81 seats to the RJD, which clinched four victories—a sign of the deepening ties within the INDIA bloc.

As Bihar braces for a high-stakes electoral battle, JMM’s bid to carve out a foothold in its neighbor’s tribal belts signals its growing appetite for regional clout. Yet, with alliance politics at play and the clock ticking, Soren’s ability to secure his party’s demands could shape not just JMM’s fortunes but the broader unity of the INDIA bloc against a resurgent NDA. For now, Bihar’s border voters wait to see if JMM’s tribal rallying cry will echo beyond Jharkhand’s hills.

Also Read: Seat-Sharing Deadlock Pushes RJD-Congress Alliance Toward Breakdown