Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Ranchi, Jun 6: Tensions have surfaced within Jharkhand’s ruling alliance as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress find themselves at loggerheads over the allocation of seats for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

The disagreement emerged shortly after the Congress formally announced Pranav Jha as its nominee for one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand. In a swift response, the JMM declared its intention to contest both available seats, signaling a significant divergence from its alliance partner.

The decision was taken during a meeting of JMM legislators and senior leaders held at the residence of Chief Minister Hemant Soren. During the deliberations, party MLAs unanimously empowered Soren, who also serves as the party’s Executive President, to make the final decision regarding candidate selection.

Addressing the media after the meeting, senior leaders Yogendra Prasad and Hafizul Hasan said party legislators were united in their belief that the JMM should field candidates for both seats. They indicated that the names of the party’s nominees would be announced before June 8.

According to JMM leaders, the party’s claim is based on its status as the largest political force in the state Assembly. The assertion comes despite the Congress’s late-night announcement on Thursday naming Pranav Jha, an AICC secretary and close political aide to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, as its Rajya Sabha candidate from Jharkhand.

The Congress announcement had initially led to speculation that the alliance partners had reached a consensus on seat-sharing. However, the JMM’s subsequent move has challenged that perception and highlighted underlying differences that had remained largely out of public view.

In the lead-up to the candidate declaration, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly held discussions with Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Additionally, Congress’s Jharkhand in-charge K. Raju and Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had recently visited Ranchi to persuade the JMM leadership to allocate one Rajya Sabha seat to the Congress.

Despite these efforts, the JMM’s decision to stake claim to both seats has intensified the political standoff within the coalition. Neither side appears willing to retreat, with the Congress standing firm behind its candidate and the JMM maintaining its demand for exclusive control over both nominations.

Although the ruling alliance possesses sufficient strength in the Jharkhand Assembly to secure victory in both contests, the dispute has raised concerns about coordination and cohesion within the government. As the nomination process gathers pace, attention is now focused on the next steps of Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the Congress high command.

Polling for 24 Rajya Sabha seats across the country is scheduled to take place on June 18.