RJD cries foul as Cong, JMM strike seat deal

The JMM, which was at one stage known to work in tandem with Laloo, was lured by the Congress with a larger share from the kitty. The JMM will contest 35 of the 81 seats, while the Congress will fight 33. The two parties have left 13 seats, to be shared by RJD and the Left parties. JMM chief and Union Coal Minister Shibu Soren announced the agreement after a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi today. Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh, who negotiated on behalf of the Congress, was also present at the meeting.

The accord marks a loss of face for the Left, which too have been kept out of the loop. The development is particularly embarrassing, coming as it does, close on the heels of their strong rebuff to SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav over his efforts to forge a Third Front.

The RJD reacted sharply to the “unilateral” Congress action threatening to field its candidates in 25 constituencies. Arjun Singh, however, ruled out any changes in the accord and attributed the announcement to Laloo’s failure to join discussions.

Soren, when asked about the chief ministership, said: ‘‘It will be decided after the polls.’’ As for the formula, ‘‘There is only one formula — Soniaji would decide on the matter after the elections.’’

RJD spokesman Sanjay Paswan, meanwhile, said his party had not been taken in to confidence. ‘‘They should not have done this,’’ he said. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury was far more restrained. He said the ‘‘unilateral’’ decision was not in line with ‘‘our thinking’’.