JMM, Congress close to Assam alliance; Soren keeps plan B ready

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Indian National Congress are in advanced stages of talks for a possible alliance in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections, even as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has kept alternative options open if seat-sharing negotiations fail.

The discussions gathered pace following the recent visit of senior Assam Congress leaders, including MP Gaurav Gogoi and AICC general secretary in-charge of Assam Jitendra Singh, who met Soren in Ranchi as part of efforts to strengthen coordination among INDIA bloc partners.

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JMM leaders said talks with the Congress have progressed, with the party preparing to contest around 25 to 30 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly. However, no formal announcement on seat-sharing has been made so far.

JMM central general secretary Manoj Pandey said the party is committed to contesting the Assam polls, citing what he described as growing support among tribal communities, particularly tea tribes. He said Soren is closely monitoring developments, and a final decision will be taken soon.

At the same time, the party has indicated a fallback strategy. Pandey said that if talks with the Congress do not yield a satisfactory outcome, JMM could explore alliances with other parties. He added that the party’s objective is to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party from returning to power in the state.

The Congress, while expressing willingness for an alliance, stressed the need for a realistic assessment of ground strength. State party spokesperson Jagdish Sahu said the Congress is capable of defeating the BJP on its own but remains open to an alliance with JMM as part of the INDIA bloc. He added that seat-sharing should be based on ground realities in Assam.

A failure to reach an agreement could split votes among tribal and tea tribe communities, both of which the two parties are seeking to consolidate, potentially affecting the opposition’s prospects.

JMM has stepped up its presence in Assam, with Soren visiting the state in recent months and the party announcing a list of star campaigners. The party is learnt to be focusing on constituencies reserved for Scheduled Tribes, which number 19 after delimitation.

Leaders from other parties have also reacted to the development, with the BJP dismissing it as insignificant, while some opposition leaders cautioned against a division of anti-BJP votes.

With negotiations still underway, the final shape of the opposition’s strategy in Assam is expected to become clear in the coming days.