JMM’s Hemant Soren meets Rahul, seals Jharkhand alliance

A senior JMM leader said that given past acrimony and a split between the JMM and the Congress after the last assembly polls in 2014, Thursday’s meeting also assuaged apprehensions between the two sides.

Published on: Feb 7, 2019, 23:48:43 IST

New Delhi | By Vishal Kant

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Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) working president Hemant Soren met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday and finalised a proposed alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections later this year, according to senior state-level functionaries from both parties.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) working president Hemant Soren met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday (RPN Singh/Twitter)

A senior JMM leader said that given past acrimony and a split between the JMM and the Congress after the last assembly polls in 2014, Thursday’s meeting also assuaged apprehensions between the two sides.

“It has been decided that the Congress will lead the alliance and contest a greater number of seats from the state in the Lok Sabha polls, while the JMM will lead the alliance and do the same in the assembly elections,” said Rajesh Thakur, media incharge, Jharkhand Congress.

Soren has held meetings with other senior Congress leaders and leaders from the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik), or the JVM (P), and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) — the other two constituents of the proposed alliance in Jharkhand. Leaders from the four parties suggested that a formula has been worked out for the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state - Congress seven seats, JMM four, JVM (P) two, and RJD one.

LK Kundan, associate professor of political science at Ranchi university, said, “I don’t think such a ‘gathbandan’ will create any magic in Jharkhand. Even if they win the election, the pact won’t be fruitful in the long run.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vishal Kant
Stationed in Ranchi, Vishal is heading the Jharkhand Bureau of Hindustan Times since November 2017. Besides leading the reporting team, Vishal tracks and writes on developments related to the state politics, economy and policy matters in Jharkhand. Prior to his current assignment, Vishal used to work in New Delhi after graduating from the University of Delhi. Vishal joined HT in the rank of Assistant Editor in August 2015 and was part of the Delhi Metro Bureau, covering a host of issues in the City-state including politics, policy---especially those related to urban traffic & transport infrastructure and railways. A native of Palamu district in Jharkhand, Vishal started his two-decade long career in the mainstream media in 2006. During this period, he has has worked in different capacity with a number of national media houses including the Financial Chronicle, India Today, Deccan Herald and The Hindu, before moving to the Hindustan Times. He holds the experience of having worked in three major mediums of mass communication--Print, Electronic and Digital. He is a proud father of two daughters.Read More

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