CPI (ML) Liberation to be INDIA bloc’s Left ally in Jharkhand
While Left veterans, CPI and CPM are going solo, CPI(ML) Liberation has been allocated three seats — Sindri, Nirsa and Bagodar — by INDIA bloc constituents in the Jharkhand poll, slated to take place next month.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) – three parties that form the core of the anti-BJP alliance in the state – have agreed to not put up any candidate in these seats. However, in Bagodar, both JMM and CPI (ML) have put up candidates.
Meanwhile, the two veteran Left parties – CPI and CPM – are going solo as the two parties are no longer considered strong contenders in the electoral race. The CPI has announced 15 candidates, and CPM has named nine candidates. The two parties could not manage to reach any agreement regarding the sharing of seats with other INDIA bloc constituents.
The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 seats. The Congress will contest on 30 seats — party’s lowest in the state. The previous lowest was 31 in 2019.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will contest on six seats, one less than what it was allocated in 2019. The remaining 42 seats will be contested by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.
The JMM had contested 43 seats in 2019. If the JMM concedes to the CPI (ML) Liberation request of withdrawing its candidate from Bagodar seat, then its tally would drop further to 41 seats.
“We had won Bagodar in 2014, finished second in successive elections and a close third in 2019, behind BJP, while JMM finished sixth. But they’ve gone ahead and fielded a candidate”, Dipankar, general secretary of the CPI (ML) Liberation told this reporter. Tuesday was the last day of filing nominations for the Jharkhand Assembly poll, while November 1 is the last day for withdrawal of candidature.
