After RJD, JD(U) eyes 2019 Jharkhand assembly polls

RANCHI: Jharkhand is the new hunting ground for political parties of Bihar as after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Bihar’s ruling party Janata Dal (United) is keen to improve its political footprints in the neighbouring state.
RJD, whose president Lalu Prasad Yadav is serving jail terms in Ranchi in different fodder scam cases since 2017, has found itself in the newly formed Mahagatbandhan, the grand alliance of political parties comprising Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Jharkhand Vikas Morcha – Prajatantrik (JVM-P) and the Left parties, which announced to contest Parliamentary and assembly polls in Jharkhand under a united flag this year.
But Nitish Kumar led JD(U), which has stitched the ruling alliance with BJP in Bihar, is planning to go solo in Jharkhand Assembly elections, to be held later in 2019.
Ram Sevak Singh, a sitting MLA in Bihar assembly and the party’s national state-in-charge for Jharkhand, on Tuesday said the outfit is preparing in all 81 assembly constituencies. “We are prepared to go solo if required,” Singh said.
While the RJD is bargaining for contesting in a few Parliamentary seats in districts bordering Bihar in Lok Sabha polls, the JD (U) is undecided over its move in Jharkhand. “To be honest, we are not in alliance with the BJP outside Bihar. The decision, whether we will be contesting in Jharkhand in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, will be taken at the party’s central leadership by February end,” Singh told the TOI.
Notably, Kumar, who had visited Ranchi in 2018 to attend a meeting of JD(U) office bearers and functionaries, had urged them to increase public relations in towns and rural hinterlands and set up booth and district level bodies.
The party, which had miniscule presence in Jharkhand so far, was dealt a body blow last December when its state president Jaleshwar Mahto moved to Jharkhand Congress. With time running out, JD (U) on Tuesday appointed Shailendra Mahto, the Kurmi Mahasabha president of Jharkhand, as the party’s state convener. A consulting committee with veteran party leaders like Khiru Mahto, Sudha Choudhary, KB Sahay and others was also announced. “The committee will be the guiding light of the party in Jharkhand,” Singh said, adding that Jaleshwar’s defection has troubled the party little.