Jharkhand Assembly Election 2024: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has on Friday sealed a deal with All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal-United (JDU), and Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV). As per the seat-sharing formula, the BJP will contest 68 seats, AJSU 10, JDU 2, and LJP-RV 1 in Jharkhand.
Sudesh Mahto's All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) is to contest on 10 seats, including Silli, Ramgarh, Gomia, Ichaghar, Mandu, Jugsalai, Dumri, Pakur, Lohardaga, and Manoharpur. While Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United (JDU) will contest two seats—Tamar and Jamshedpur East—the Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest the Chatra Assembly seat.
Assam CM and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sharma during a press conference in Ranchi said, "As per our discussions so far, AJSU will contest on 10 seats, JD(U) on two seats, LJP (Ram Vilas Paswan) on one seat and BJP will contest on remaining of the seats, however, discussions are still on."
Which are the seats in Jharkhand the BJP is contesting?
The BJP is contesting on 68 seats: Rajmahal, Borio, Barhait, Litipara, Maheshpur, Sikaripara, Nala, Jamtara, Dumka, Jama, Jarmundi, Madhupur, Sarath, Deoghar, Poreyahat, Godda, Mahagama, Kodarma, Barkatha, Barhi, Barkagaon, Hazaribagh, Simaria, Dhanwar, Bagodar, Jamua, Gandey, Giridih, Bermo, Bokaro, Chandankiyari, Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi, Baghmara, Baharagora, Ghatsila, Potka, Jamshedpur West, Seraikella, Chaibasa, Majhgaon, Jaganathpur, Chakradharpur, Kharsawan, Torpa, Khunti, Khijri, Ranchi, Hatia, Kanke, Mandar, Sisai, Gumla, Bishunpur, Simdega, Kolebira, Manika, Latehar, Panki, Daltonganj, Bishrampur, Chhatarpur, Hussainabad, Garhwa, and Bhawanathpur.
Union Minister and BJP's election in-charge for Jharkhand, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, "In Jharkhand, BJP, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) will contest the elections together. An agreement has also been reached on seat sharing and candidates will be announced soon..."
What happened in the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections?
The BJP lost power to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress alliance in the 2019 Assembly polls. The incumbent Chief Minister Raghubar Das also lost the election in the Jamshedpur East constituency. The BJP won 25 seats, while the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance secured 47 seats in the Assembly, with JMM winning 30 seats on its own. The Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) won 3 seats, while the AJSU emerged victorious in just 2 seats. The BJP and the AJSU didn't have any alliance in the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly polls.
What happened in the 2014 Jharkhand Assembly Elections?
The BJP and the AJSU allied in the 2014 Jharkhand Assembly Election and won 42 seats, BJP 37 and AJSU 5. together. The seat share was BJP 37, JMM 19, JVM 08, Congress 6, AJSU 05, BSP 01, CPI(ML-L) 01, JKP 01, JBSP 01, NSAM 01, and MCO 01.
Meanwhile, the fling of nomination papers for 43 Assembly constituencies in Jharkhand, set to vote on November 13 in Phase 1, began on Friday, an election official said. The nomination process will continue until October 25, with submissions accepted from 11 am to 3 pm.
(With inputs from Mukesh Sinha)
