Rahul Gandhi's, Tejashwi Yadav's arrogance: BJP on JMM exiting Mahagathbandhan

In a sharp attack on the opposition bloc, the BJP on Saturday blamed the "arrogance" of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD's Tejashwi Yadav for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's (JMM) decision to quit the Mahagathbandhan and contest the Bihar Assembly elections independently.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said the grand alliance had fallen apart due to the attitude of its top leaders. "In Bihar, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has released the list of its candidates and also announced that it is no longer a part of the Mahagathbandhan. Not only that, the party has also stated that after the Bihar elections, the alliance in Jharkhand will also be reconsidered. Rahul and Tejashwi's arrogance is the real reason behind the breakup of the Mahagathbandhan. Bihar has been saved," Malviya said on X.

Echoing Malviya's remarks, the Bihar unit of the BJP said, "The grand alliance is falling apart. One by one, the allied parties are abandoning the partnership. If this is the situation before the elections, what will happen after the elections? Now JMM has left the alliance."

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary also took a swipe at the alliance, saying there is confusion within the Mahagathbandhan "as candidates from within the alliance are fighting against each other."

The remarks came after the JMM announced it would contest the Bihar Assembly polls independently and "review" its alliance with the Congress and RJD in Jharkhand after the elections.

JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said at a press conference that the party will field candidates on six seats, Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria (ST), Manihari (ST), Jamui, and Pirpainti (SC), all of which go to polls in the second phase on November 11.

"The party has decided to contest the Bihar polls on its own," Bhattacharya said, adding that the number of seats may rise to 10. He also declared a list of 20 star campaigners led by JMM president and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Others on the list include Kalpana Soren, Basant Soren, Stephen Marandi, and Sarfaraj Ahmed.

Bhattacharya said that "infighting prevails in the NDA as well as the INDIA bloc", asserting, "We will fight, win and make sure that without the JMM, no government is formed in Bihar. After the Bihar polls, the JMM will have a relook at the coalition in Jharkhand."

The JMM had earlier written to INDIA bloc leaders on October 11, stating that if it was not allotted a "respectful number" of seats by October 14, it would take its own decision.

The party had sought 12 seats but was not accommodated. "We had urged constituents of the INDIA bloc like the Congress, Left parties and the RJD, which is one of the largest parties in Bihar, to provide the seats demanded by the JMM. In the 2019 Jharkhand election, we had given our support to Congress and RJD. The party not only gave seven seats to RJD, but also made its MLA from Chatra a minister," Bhattacharya said.

He added that even in the 2024 Jharkhand polls, the JMM had given six seats to the RJD and "accommodated an MLA as minister."

Congress leader Udit Raj, meanwhile, called for resolving differences, saying, "If there are some differences, they must be cleared. We have always cooperated and stood with the JMM. Now it is time for everyone to contest the Bihar elections together. Our fight is with the Central government; this should be kept in mind. Did the Central government leave any stone unturned to topple the Jharkhand government? They sent Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren to jail."

The development is the latest blow to the Bihar Mahagathbandhan, which comprises the Congress, RJD, and Left parties among others, and has been struggling to finalise seat-sharing.

The stalemate has led to allies fielding rival candidates in multiple constituencies, including Vaishali, Lalganj, Bachhwara, Gaura Bauram, Rosera, Rajapakar, and Biharsharif, exposing deep fissures within the coalition.

Despite interventions from senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Lalu Prasad Yadav urging unity, the Mahagathbandhan remains divided.

The RJD reportedly agreed to allot 61 seats to the Congress but insisted on retaining key constituencies such as Kahalgaon, Narkatiyaganj, and Vasaliganj. Congress later released its first list of 48 candidates, including Garib Das from Bachwara, even without a final pact.

The entry of Mukesh Sahani's Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), claiming 60 seats and the Deputy CM's post, further complicated the alliance talks, while the CPI(ML) rejected Tejashwi Yadav's offer of 19 seats, demanding over 30 after its strong 2020 performance.

Elections to 243 Assembly seats in Bihar will be held on November 6 and November 11, and counting will take place on November 14.

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