JMM Pulls Out Of Bihar Contest After Announcing Solo Bid, Blames Congress, RJD For 'Betrayal'

Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 09:08 IST

The JMM said the alliance arrangement in Jharkhand would be subject to review because of the attitude of the RJD and Congress, which had sidelined the party

The JMM, led by Hemant Soren in neighbouring Jharkhand, had initially declared that it would contest six assembly constituencies in Bihar. (PTI)

In a dramatic twist that is sure to keep the political cauldron bubbling in Bihar, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) announced that it would not participate in the upcoming assembly elections, just days after signalling its intention to run independently on six seats.

The JMM, led by Hemant Soren in neighbouring Jharkhand, had initially declared that it would contest six assembly constituencies in Bihar—Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria, Manihari, Jamui and Pirpainti, the Indian Express reported. The move was being seen as a challenge to its allies in the opposition Mahagathbandhan—Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress—amid an internal tussle over seat sharing.

However, the JMM abandoned its plan to contest in Bihar, accusing its alliance partners of deliberately sidelining it. Senior JMM leader Sudivya Kumar accused RJD and Congress of orchestrating a “political conspiracy" by denying JMM seats. He added that the alliance arrangement in Jharkhand would be subject to review because of this perceived betrayal.

According to JMM leaders, the party felt snubbed as it had conceded seats to the RJD in Jharkhand (seven seats in 2019, six more in 2024) and even accommodated RJD ministers, but now saw no reciprocal respect in Bihar. The ultimatum from JMM had been clear: unless a “respectable number" of seats was allocated by October 15, they would go it alone. That threshold, however, was not met, prompting the abrupt exit.

The JMM’s withdrawal not only weakens the opposition bloc’s cohesion just ahead of the Bihar election but also signals the party’s frustration with its allies and raises the possibility of shifting alignments in Jharkhand. For the electorate, especially in tribal dominated regions, the move could influence perceptions of political respect and representation.

The JMM has declared that it will not actively campaign for the alliance in Bihar, and it is now openly reviewing the terms of its coalition with RJD and Congress in Jharkhand. While the party’s prior plan to contest six seats is now shelved, the real story may unfold in the reactions and seat sharing dynamics within both Bihar and Jharkhand.

While the NDA has settled its seat-sharing deal, the Opposition is still locked in tough negotiations, even as the deadline for filing nominations for the first phase has already passed.

News elections JMM Pulls Out Of Bihar Contest After Announcing Solo Bid, Blames Congress, RJD For 'Betrayal'

Read More