JMM not to fight Bihar polls days after announcing solo contest

In a dramatic twist that is sure to keep the political cauldron bubbling in Bihar, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced that it would not participate in the upcoming assembly elections, just days after signalling its intention to run independently on six seats.

The JMM, led by Hemant Soren in neighbouring Jharkhand, had initially declared that it would contest six assembly constituencies in Bihar—Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui and Pirpainti, the Indian Express reported. The move was being seen as a challenge to its allies in the opposition Mahagathbandhan—Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress—amid an internal tussle over seat sharing.

However, the JMM abandoned its plan to contest in Bihar, accusing its alliance partners of deliberately sidelining it. Senior JMM leader Sudivya Kumar accused RJD and Congress of orchestrating a “political conspiracy" by denying JMM seats. He added that the alliance arrangement in Jharkhand would be subject to review because of this perceived betrayal.