Seat-Sharing Strife: INDIA Bloc's Jharkhand Election Dilemma

Discontent brews within the INDIA bloc over seat-sharing for Jharkhand elections. CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali criticizes Congress for overreaching, while RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha labels the seat distribution as unilateral. Meanwhile, BJP announces its candidates, setting the stage for a heated election.

Discontent is simmering within the INDIA bloc regarding the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections. CPI(M) Politburo member Subhashini Ali criticized the Congress party, citing its tendency to demand more seats than warranted by its electoral strength.

The INDIA bloc, comprising Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and the Left, has faced internal disagreements following the announcement made on Saturday. Ali remarked that the era when Congress could win votes solely on its name has passed, and stressed the importance of alliance unity in elections.

RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha also voiced concerns over the 'unilateral' nature of the Congress-JMM decision. Jha mentioned that although RJD aims to jointly contest against the BJP, the current seat-sharing offering is unacceptable, being reduced from an initial talk of seven seats to just three or four.

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its list of 66 candidates for the elections, intensifying the political battle. The Jharkhand Assembly elections are set for November, with voting conducted in two phases and results announced on the 23rd.

(With inputs from agencies.)