The Jharkhand unit of the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has decided to abandon the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and fight the assembly elections on its own.
However, the final decision rests with the central leadership of the party, state JD-U president Jaleshwar Mahto said after a meeting of the state executive Tuesday.
"The state executive committee has decided that the party will fight all the 81 assembly seats of the state. The decision will be communicated to the central leaders of the party," Mahto told reporters.
There has been tension between the two National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies after the Lok Sabha elections -- the BJP fought 12 of Jharkhand's 14 seats and won eight; the JD-U contested two seats and lost both.
It has charged the BJP with conspiring against its candidates in Palamau and Chatra and contributing to its humiliating defeat.
The JD-U's stance is also construed as a reaction to state BJP president Raghubar Das' statement after the elections that the party would go it alone in the assembly elections.
Jharkhand has been under president's rule since Jan 19 and the state assembly has been kept under suspended animation. Indications are that the central government may dissolve the state assembly and elections could take place by the end of the year.
{{/usCountry}}Jharkhand has been under president's rule since Jan 19 and the state assembly has been kept under suspended animation. Indications are that the central government may dissolve the state assembly and elections could take place by the end of the year.
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