A constituent of I.N.D.I.A alliance, JMM is eyeing more Lok Sabha seats within and outside Jharkhand for the coming general elections. JMM is seeking seven seats within Jharkhand and at least as much seats in the neighbouring states of Jharkhand.
Already in alliance with Congress and RJD, Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha is in power in the state.
JMM is not only seeking seven out of total 14 parliamentary seats in Jharkhand but it also wants more seats from I.N.D.I.A bloc in the neighbouring states of Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal in the coming general elections scheduled to be held within a few months.
However the party insiders say that Congress has not yet taken any decision on JMM’s demand.
The main constituent of I.N.D.I.A alliance, Congress in the state is of the view that two of the seven seats demanded by JMM had been earlier either won or lost by a thin margin by Congress, the sources said.
So, there is almost no possibility that those two seats will be allocated to JMM, they said, adding that JMM claim on rest five seat is genuine. Hopefully, JMM will be satisfied with five seats in the coming parliamentary elections, they added.
Congress is communicating with JMM on the issue and hopefully its leaders will accept offer of five seats in Jharkhand, they said adding that Congress would most probably would contest on eight and RJD on one Lok Sabha seat.
Besides JMM is also seeking at least seven seats outside Jharkhand. If sources are to be believed, JMM wants two seats in Odisha, and one each in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
However a Congress leader said that his party is itself struggling to maintain alliance with TMC in West Bengal. If Congress is left with no option but to contest alone in West Bengal, JMM’s demand may be duly considered in that case.
As far as Bihar is concerned, the regional parties in the state may not allow Congress to give any seat to JMM.
Talks for seat sharing are already on and it is expected that the two parties will reach a consensus on that, the sources said.
Congress working president in Jharkhand Bandu Tirkey said to The Sunday Guardian, “The seat settlement outside the state will be done by the central leadership. Moreover a Congress party has fought nine seats and two seats were earlier given to Babu Lal Marandi and even now Congress has a right to contest over nine seats.”