In Jharkhand, BJP ties up with AJSU, TMC with Marandi

The alliances were formalised despite opposition within almost all the parties concerned. The BJP’s state leadership were all set to go alone, but a last minute intervention by Rajya Sabha MP Parimal Nathwani meant they had to sit across the table. The AJSU demanded at least 10 seats and consequently, the BJP’s first list of candidates on Sunday had only 63 names, with the party holding back candidates on five of the six seats on which the AJSU has a legislator.

Even on Monday, the BJP-AJSU alliance could only name six seats in which the latter would contest. BJP’s Jharkhand election in-charge Bhupendra Yadav said in Delhi that AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto will announce the other two seats soon.

Meanwhile, AJSU’s Hatia MLA Naveen Jaiswal, whose seat has been surrendered to the BJP, protested the move. BJP workers from Ranchi’s Mandar constituency also protested outside AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto’s residence on Monday against the party’s decision not to contest there.

The TMC, on the other hand, risks isolating its base in the Santhal Pargana by going into an alliance with the JVM(P). The decision was reportedly taken solely by TMC’s state unit president Bandhu Tirkey, who has ensured his seat in Mandar is one of the five seats the TMC will retain.