JMM to contest six Bihar seats, breaks from INDIA bloc

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha said this week that it would both field candidates independently in six Bihar Assembly constituencies and, days later, that it would not participate in the state polls as part of the INDIA bloc, accusing its alliance partners of denying it an acceptable share of seats and warning it would review its coalition in neighbouring Jharkhand. The developments add to growing strains within the opposition as parties scramble to finalise candidates ahead of nominations and polling in November.

On Saturday the JMM announced it would contest the second phase seats of Chakai, Dhamdaha, Katoria ST, Manihari ST, Jamui and Pirpainti SC after seat-sharing talks with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress failed to meet the party's demand for a larger allocation. JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the party had earlier sought 12 seats and had given allies concessions in past Jharkhand contests. He also named a 20-member list of star campaigners led by Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

Within days a senior JMM leader amplified the party's objections. Sudivya Kumar, the state tourism minister, told reporters the RJD and the Congress had engaged in a...