Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (P) chief Babulal Marandi on Tuesday announced breaking away from the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) and said that the party will contest all the 81 Assembly seats on its own in year-end Assembly election.
The JVM chief on the sidelines of party discussion for probable candidates at city based banquet hall said that the talks with Grand Alliance partners over seats sharing formula is over.
Marandi, the first chief minister of State said, “We were much interested to have alliance with Mahagathbandhan partners, but the other constituents of Grand Alliance without consultation with JVM decided their seat sharing formula.” He also said that any talk on Grand Alliance formula is futile as it is already very late. The JVM was part of Grand Alliance in Lok Sabha elections with party unsuccessfully contesting two seats Godda and Koderma. Meanwhile, Congress is making effort to bring JVM (P) in Mahagathbandhan and in this connection on Sunday evening State Congress president Rameshwar Oroan visited Marandi’s residence at Morhabadi in State Capital. Sources said that Marandi made it clear to Congress chief that JVM (P) will go alone in Assembly election. Sources said that the JVM (P) has decided to keep away from Grand Alliance as its chief Marandi has refused to go in Assembly election under the leadership of JMM executive president Hemant Soren. As per seat sharing formula chalked out by Mahagathbandhan, the JMM playing the role of big brother will contest 43 to 45 seats, Congress 25 to 28 seats while leaving ten seats for other constituents RJD and Left parties.
Sources said that though JVM(P) chief has categorically stated that JVM(P) will not be part of alliance, the party is in two fractions with one group with an idea to go with alliance while other toeing the idea of party chief. Meanwhile, JVM State general secretary Saroj Singh said, “The entire party is with what our chief has said. There is no talk on having alliance with Grand Alliance partners.”
Sources said that Congress working hard to bring back JVM(P) in Grand Alliance assume importance as party vote share has gone up from 2009 to 2014. In 2009, JVM (P) contested in 25 Assembly seats with vote share of 8.99 per cent, in 2014 the JVM(P) contested in 73 seats with vote share of 10.16 per cent. However, despite JMM, the other two constituents Congress and RJD vote share declined.
Also, the JVM on Tuesday kick started discussion for names of probable candidates in presence of Marandi and party’s Poreyehat MLA Pradeep Yadav and others. On Tuesday names of probable candidates for 33 seats was discussed while on Wednesday names of probable candidates for remaining seats will be discussed.After discussion on names of all 81 Assembly seats, on Wednesday evening JVM chief with other senior leaders will take a final call on candidates’ name.