JMM blames Congress, RJD for ignoring coalition norms; skips Bihar polls, vows to review INDIA bloc ties
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced on Monday that it will not contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. The party accused its INDIA bloc allies, Congress and RJD, of failing to uphold coalition “dharma.”
JMM leader Sudeep Kumar Sonu made the announcement at a press conference in Giridih, Jharkhand. He said the party reached the decision with “deep regret” after repeated attempts to secure seats in Bihar went unmet.
The decision follows statements by JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya on Saturday, who had said the party would contest six Bihar seats, breaking away from the Mahagathbandhan alliance.
Sonu explained that the nomination window for the second phase of Bihar polling closed at 3 pm on Monday. He alleged that the RJD leadership blocked JMM’s participation, while the Congress failed to protect the party’s interests during seat-sharing talks.
“Where an important ally of the INDIA bloc has been prevented from contesting, there must be reasons — but we hold the RJD leadership fully responsible for this situation,” Sonu said. “The Congress shares responsibility as well for failing to ensure JMM’s inclusion.”
He recalled JMM’s past support for the RJD in 2015 and its accommodation of Congress, RJD, and Left parties in Jharkhand in 2024. Sonu noted that promises of three Bihar seats in 2020 were changed at the last minute. He added that similar assurances in 2025 were ignored.
Recounting a meeting with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on October 7, Sonu said he and fellow JMM leader Vinod Pandey were promised seats. “We highlighted 28 seats in Bihar with significant tribal voters. Of those, 22 were lost by narrow margins. JMM could have swung ST votes and aided the INDIA bloc,” he said.
Sonu clarified that the JMM will not engage in campaigning or political programmes in Bihar this election. He warned that this perceived betrayal could have political consequences in Jharkhand. “The Jharkhandi consciousness does not forget humiliation. We will respond and affirm that JMM remains a strong voice for India’s tribal communities,” he said.
He added that the party will review its relationship with INDIA bloc and Mahagathbandhan partners based on their actions. Future decisions will prioritize JMM’s political interests and Jharkhand’s welfare.
Sonu accused both the RJD and Congress of failing to respect coalition dharma. He said, “While JMM has accommodated partners and shifted seats in past elections, what is happening in Bihar feels like disrespect and serious political ill treatment.”
He also criticized the Congress for remaining silent. “Our complaint is that Congress did not sincerely protect a strong alliance partner. Silence itself amounts to an insult,” Sonu said.
JMM’s move signals growing tensions within the INDIA bloc and could impact tribal vote calculations in both Bihar and Jharkhand. Analysts said the development highlights the fragile nature of pre-poll alliances and the strategic importance of smaller regional parties in India’s political landscape.
