Jharkhand Congress denies rift in Mahagathbandhan, RJD backs every decision of JMM

The Bihar assembly elections have sent ripples through Jharkhand’s political landscape, prompting Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) to act swiftly to manage potential fallout within the state’s ruling coalition. The tension arose after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leaders expressed dissatisfaction over seat allocation in Bihar, describing it as a political betrayal.

Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Kishore sought to downplay the concerns, emphasizing that JMM is a mature political party and that Chief Minister Hemant Soren is a seasoned leader. “Any dissatisfaction is temporary and will be addressed once Bihar election results are out,” he said.

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RJD state vice-president Anita Yadav described recent statements by JMM minister Sudivya Kumar Sonu as disappointing but reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the alliance. “RJD respects every decision of JMM and Hemant Soren, but such language should not be used while remaining part of the coalition,” she said.

Congress leader Pradeep Balmuchu clarified that Bihar seat allocation had been decided by the RJD, not Congress. “In coalition politics, give and take is natural. The JMM, as the leading partner, will make final decisions, and all allies work together to strengthen the alliance,” he added.

The tension followed JMM’s expectation of six seats in Bihar, but candidate announcements were delayed, sparking frustration among its leaders. Minister Sonu and party general secretary Vinod Pandey were responsible for seat allocations, which fell short of expectations. Sonu described the outcome as a political betrayal, hinting that a post-election review of the alliance in Jharkhand is likely.

Under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution, the number of ministers in a cabinet headed by the chief minister cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total assembly members. In Jharkhand’s 81-member assembly, this allows a maximum of 12 ministers, including the chief minister.

Currently, besides the chief minister, JMM has five ministers: Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Deepak Birua, Chamra Linda, Hafizul Hasan, and Yogendra Prasad. One JMM seat remains vacant due to the untimely demise of Ramdas Soren. Congress has four ministers: Radhakrishna Kishore, Deepika Pandey Singh, Neha Shilpi Tirkey, and Irfan Ansari. RJD has one minister, Sanjay Prasad Yadav.

If RJD were to withdraw its minister, the Hemant Cabinet would reduce from 11 to 10 ministers, including the chief minister. Jharkhand’s 81-member assembly requires 41 seats for a majority. The ruling coalition currently comprises JMM with 34 seats, Congress 16, RJD 4, and CPI(M-L) 2, totaling 56 seats, 15 above the majority mark. Even without RJD, the government would retain 52 seats, comfortably above the majority. Analysts caution, however, that any move against Congress could trigger instability.

While Bihar has revealed minor fault lines, Congress and RJD’s proactive damage control reflects a concerted effort to preserve unity in Jharkhand. Political observers suggest the true test of the coalition’s cohesion will come with the post-election review and how the leadership of JMM, Congress, and RJD navigates the political sensitivities arising from Bihar.