JMM keen to join grand alliance for Bihar polls

Patna: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is keen to join the grand alliance of the JD-U, RJD and Congress for the Bihar assembly polls to defeat the BJP-led NDA, former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said here on Saturday.

"JMM will join the grand alliance to ensure the defeat of the BJP-led NDA," JMM leader Soren told media after meeting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad here.

Soren said he has informed Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad during his talks with them separately that JMM was keen to join the grand alliance to contest the polls.

"My talks with Lalu Prasad on Friday and Nitish Kumar on Saturday was positive and i am hopeful that a final and formal announcement to join the grand alliance will be made before September 16," Hemant Soren said.

Hemant Soren said that he will also apprise JMM chief Sibu Soren about this development after his return to Ranchi.

"I will visit Patna again if required," he said.

Earlier, JMM announced to contest on all the 243 assembly seats in Bihar on its own.

In 2010, the JMM had contested 62 seats and won only one.

Its candidate Sumit Kumar Singh, son of then Bihar minister senior JD-U leader Narendra Singh, wrested the Chakai assembly seat but later joined the Janata Dal-United.

The party enjoys a support base among the tribals in districts bordering Jharkhand and other districts.

The grand alliance of JD-U and RJD would contest 100 seats each and the Congress 40 seats. Three seats were left for Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) but the party walked away from the alliance on the issue.

Later, Lalu Prasad announced to give five seats to Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav but it also walked away from the alliance.