Bihar – The Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has announced a complete JMM Bihar withdrawal from the state’s assembly elections, leveling serious accusations of “political shrewdness” against its alliance partners Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. The dramatic decision to pull out comes after the tribal party claimed it was kept in the dark about seat-sharing arrangements until the last minute, despite being part of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand since 2019.
The JMM Bihar withdrawal development could have significant implications for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance bloc arrangement in Jharkhand, where the same three parties currently govern together. This crisis exposes deep fissures within the opposition coalition and raises questions about the sustainability of multi-party alliances built on fragile foundations.
From Solo Contest to Complete JMM Bihar Withdrawal
The JMM Bihar withdrawal comes just two days after the party announced it would fight the polls independently and field candidates in six constituencies of the 243-member Bihar assembly. However, despite the initial declaration of solo participation, none from the party filed nominations by October 20, the last date for filing nominations for the second and final phase of Bihar polls, leading to the complete JMM Bihar withdrawal.
This rapid sequence of events—from announced solo contest to complete JMM Bihar withdrawal—suggests chaotic last-minute negotiations and a breakdown in communication between alliance partners that could not be resolved even at the eleventh hour.
Minister Accuses Partners of Political Shrewdness
Speaking to media persons at his residence in Giridih on Monday evening, JMM leader and state urban housing & development minister Sudivya Kumar described the JMM Bihar withdrawal as resulting from political “shrewdness” of the lead partner RJD in the INDIA bloc in Bihar, which was also supported by Congress.
“This is a result of the political shrewdness of the lead party in the alliance. They kept us waiting in the name of deliberations with one party or the other. We always wanted to strengthen the alliance. But this changed political scenario is set to have a bearing in the alliance. We will reassess the arrangement in Jharkhand,” said Kumar, considered close to Chief Minister Soren, while explaining the JMM Bihar withdrawal decision.
Congress Equally Blamed for JMM Bihar Withdrawal
Holding Congress equally responsible for the JMM Bihar withdrawal, Kumar stated that the grand old party supported the RJD in marginalizing the tribal party. “Our leader honoured the request of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and joined the last day of his Voter Adhikar Rally in Patna. However, even the Congress was hand in glove with the RJD and they did not speak for the cause of the JMM,” Kumar added.
This dual accusation suggests the JMM Bihar withdrawal stems from feeling betrayed by both major partners in the alliance, not just one, making reconciliation potentially more difficult.
Last-Minute Waiting Game
Around two hours before Kumar’s announcement of the JMM Bihar withdrawal, JMM general secretary Vinod Pandey told reporters in Ranchi that they were kept waiting by alliance leaders until the last minute. “Our candidates are ready and waiting for our green signal. Even as we speak, I am getting calls from our candidates. We still request the alliance leaders to sort this out,” Pandey had said, showing that the JMM Bihar withdrawal was not the party’s preferred outcome.
Both Kumar and Pandey were authorized to negotiate with alliance partners over seat sharing. Their statements reveal that the JMM Bihar withdrawal resulted from negotiation breakdown rather than strategic choice.
Historical Pattern of Broken Promises
Kumar revealed that a meeting regarding seat sharing was held on October 7 in Patna with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, which Vinod Pandey and he attended. “From October 7 to October 20, the RJD engaged in manipulation, and the Congress supported them in this behaviour,” Kumar stated, providing context for the JMM Bihar withdrawal timeline.
More significantly, Kumar disclosed that similar betrayal occurred in Bihar election 2020. “In Bihar election 2020, too, the JMM was assured of three seats by the RJD and Congress, but later they divided the seats among themselves, deceiving us. We will review the alliance in future, which will be as per the interests of the JMM and Jharkhand,” said Kumar, suggesting the JMM Bihar withdrawal reflects accumulated frustration over repeated marginalization.
Alliance Partners’ Silence on JMM Bihar Withdrawal
Even as the JMM has underlined that they would review the alliance arrangement in Jharkhand following the JMM Bihar withdrawal, state leaders of Congress and RJD have chosen to remain silent, at least “for now.” A Congress spokesperson acknowledged: “There have been doubts of the organisational strength and limitations of JMM in Bihar. However, the way things have panned out is unfortunate. But we can’t speak over it as of now. Let the central leaders take a view of the situation.”
This response suggests Congress recognizes the JMM Bihar withdrawal as a serious crisis requiring high-level intervention rather than state-level damage control.
JMM’s Accommodation in Jharkhand Cited
JMM leaders have repeatedly emphasized that Hemant Soren has been very accommodative in giving space to alliance partners in Jharkhand, contrasting their generosity with the treatment that led to the JMM Bihar withdrawal. “In 2019, when only one member of the RJD won, our leader made him a minister for a full five-year term from 2019-24. In 2024, out of four MLAs, one RJD member has once again been made a minister,” said Kumar.
Current Power-Sharing in Jharkhand
The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance has governed Jharkhand since 2019 and returned to power with bigger majority in 2024. While JMM won 34 seats in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, Congress won 16, followed by four by RJD and two by CPI (ML), giving the front a majority of 56.
Currently, four Congress MLAs serve in Hemant Soren’s cabinet, while RJD has one minister, Sanjay Yadav. Notably, Rajneesh Kumar, son of Sanjay Yadav and MLA from Godda in Jharkhand, has been fielded by RJD from Kahalgaon assembly seat in neighboring Bhagalpur district in Bihar—a fact that may have added salt to JMM’s wounds regarding the JMM Bihar withdrawal and their own exclusion from Bihar contests.
