Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Kumar Jha on Sunday hinted that his party, which has a dominant presence in Bihar, might go solo in neighbouring Jharkhand in the upcoming assembly polls.
Jha’s insinuation follows an apparent disappointment over not getting the desired number of seats under the INDIA bloc coalition, comprising CM Hemant Soren‘s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress party.
“Less than 12-13 seats are not acceptable, the RJD has a strong hold on 18-20 seats,” Jha told news agency PTI in Ranchi.
Manoj Jha, who is also the Rajya Sabha MP, said “we will not let the boat sink” and will “make efforts till the end”.
“We have placed out everything through you because we believe that we will win this fight. We will win if we stick together. If we contest on a few seats, that we mentioned earlier, even then we will be a part of the alternative that is against BJP. Our politics is clear…We will not let the boat sink, we will make an effort till the end… CM will be Hemant Soren,” Jha told news agency ANI.
In case RJD goes solo, Jha said that it will openly help the INDIA bloc candidates on 60-62 seats but will also field candidates where the party ended up in second position in the 2014 and 2019 assembly elections.
“Since he has to become the CM, a sensitive view should be adopted for a party with a comprehensive support base. We will openly help you on 60-62 seats…But wherever our candidates were runners-up in 2014 and 2019, and wherever attraction has increased recently, we will come there (field party’s candidates there)…You will get the seat-wise detail…,” he added.
A rift emerged within the INDIA bloc ahead of the Jharkhand assembly polls as the RJD expressed dissatisfaction on Saturday regarding the JMM and Congress’ announcement to contest 70 out of 81 seats in the state, leaving 11 seats for RJD and Left parties to contest.
The assembly polls for 81 seats will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, and counting will take place on November 23.