The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is embarking on a significant political and organisational transformation, aiming to consolidate its base in Jharkhand while expanding its influence in Bihar and West Bengal.
The JMM is positioning itself as a key player in Bihar, leveraging its influence in border regions to negotiate a stronger presence within the Mahagathbandhan alliance. Having allocated six constituencies to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) during the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections – four of which were won by RJD – JMM now seeks a fair stake in Bihar’s electoral landscape.
Party spokesperson Manoj Pandey affirmed, “We want to establish our relevance in Bihar elections under the coalition framework. Seat-sharing discussions will be held to ensure JMM receives due representation.”
In JMM party's convention held last month, a political resolution was also passed that the party will contest the assembly elections in Jharkhand's neighbouring states Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha and will expand its organization. In Bihar the assembly elections are going to be held in October-November this year. All political parties have started preparations for this election. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is going to field its candidates in the assembly elections to be held in 2025. JMM will contest these elections under the India Alliance and the party has claimed 16 seats for this assembly election.
After Hemant Soren became the central president, JMM's first test is Mission Bihar. JMM has released 14 seats in which it has to contest elections. JMM had passed a political proposal in its convention to contest the assembly elections by activating the organization in Jamui, Bhagalpur, Purnia, Katihar, Kishanganj, Banka districts of Bihar. JMM has already been preparing for the tribal dominated seats of Chakai in Jamui district and Katoria in Banka. JMM says that the party is currently preparing on its behalf by focusing on 16 seats. A decision will be taken on this in the India Alliance meeting. Hemant Soren and Tejashwi Yadav will take the final decision regarding the seats.
During the 2014 assembly elections in Jharkhand, there was a lot of tussle between Congress-RJD-JMM-ML regarding seats. Tejashwi Yadav was camping in Ranchi for many days, yet the election was fought in a friendly fight on many seats. JMM has been contesting assembly elections in Bihar earlier also but it has been fielding its candidates without alliance. However, JMM did not take the earlier elections that seriously, many times its candidates used to contest the elections as vote cutters. But now JMM wants to contest the elections with full strength and also wants to win. The way Hemant Soren has established himself as a big tribal leader in the country and the way Kalpana Soren emerged as a star campaigner during the Jharkhand assembly elections, JMM is now looking to take political advantage of it outside Jharkhand, hence JMM has started its preparations for the Bihar elections.
