RANCHI: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leadership on Thursday avoided a flashpoint with its INDIA bloc ally, Congress, over the Lohardaga (ST) constituency candidate by announcing support for the grand old party candidate Sukhdeo Bhagat.
However, JMM insiders said the party leadership was miffed by the announcement made by Congress of its candidates across three seats late on Wednesday evening with many viewing it as an arm-twisting tactic.
JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “We had told our allies that our stakes in the seat were higher given the current ground reality. But it does not matter now. We will fulfil our role, our commitment, and support for the INDIA bloc candidate.”
JMM was demanding the Lohardaga seat because of its better performance in the assembly segments under it during the 2019 assembly election. Out of the five assembly segments that constitute the Lohardaga parliamentary constituency, three are held by JMM (Gumla, Sisai, and Bishunpur) while two are with Congress (Lohardaga and Mandar).
Though JMM has a higher presence, the parliamentary seat has traditionally been a Congress stronghold.
JMM MLA may fight in Lohardaga as independent
While former state Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat was named the candidate, JMM’s Bishunpur MLA Chamra Linda had recently staked claim to the Lohardaga seat and announced his decision to contest independently even if he is not the alliance pick.
Meanwhile, JMM took a dig at BJP and claimed that only seven out of its 13 candidates were not outsiders.
“There is discontent within their own rank and file but the BJP workers are afraid to speak up. So, our friends in the saffron party appealed to me to request their leadership on their behalf that their party must reserve 20% of the Lok Sabha constituencies for the locals,” Bhattacharya claimed.
However, JMM insiders said the party leadership was miffed by the announcement made by Congress of its candidates across three seats late on Wednesday evening with many viewing it as an arm-twisting tactic.
JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said, “We had told our allies that our stakes in the seat were higher given the current ground reality. But it does not matter now. We will fulfil our role, our commitment, and support for the INDIA bloc candidate.”
JMM was demanding the Lohardaga seat because of its better performance in the assembly segments under it during the 2019 assembly election. Out of the five assembly segments that constitute the Lohardaga parliamentary constituency, three are held by JMM (Gumla, Sisai, and Bishunpur) while two are with Congress (Lohardaga and Mandar).
Though JMM has a higher presence, the parliamentary seat has traditionally been a Congress stronghold.
JMM MLA may fight in Lohardaga as independent
While former state Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat was named the candidate, JMM’s Bishunpur MLA Chamra Linda had recently staked claim to the Lohardaga seat and announced his decision to contest independently even if he is not the alliance pick.
Meanwhile, JMM took a dig at BJP and claimed that only seven out of its 13 candidates were not outsiders.
“There is discontent within their own rank and file but the BJP workers are afraid to speak up. So, our friends in the saffron party appealed to me to request their leadership on their behalf that their party must reserve 20% of the Lok Sabha constituencies for the locals,” Bhattacharya claimed.