Bihar polls: JMM not to contest elections, had announced it would go it alone; to 'review' alliance in Jharkhand

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Mukri Morcha on Monday said it will not contest the Bihar assembly elections, a day after announcing it would fight alone.

Announcing the decision, party leader and Jharkhand government minister Sudivya Kumar added the party will review whether it will be part of the INDIA alliance anymore in Jharkhand. "We won’t contest Bihar polls and will 'review' the alliance with Congress and RJD amid the seat-sharing fiasco.”

VIDEO | Giridih: A day after announcing it would contest a few Bihar Assembly seats over 'disrespect' by RJD, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has decided not to enter the polls.

JMM leader and Jharkhand Minister Sudivya Kumar says, “We won’t contest Bihar polls and will 'review'… pic.twitter.com/vY139w5MSN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2025

The party had announced it would go solo, alleging "disrespect" and "conspiracy" by the opposition parties over seat sharing.

On October 11, the JMM told INDIA bloc leaders it would decide independently on contesting the Bihar polls if it was not allocated a “respectful number of seats” by October 14. The party, as a coalition ally, had requested 12 seats.

Also read: Bihar polls: Will ‘star’ power favour the political fortunes of parties?

In the 2020 Assembly elections, the JMM split from the RJD and the Mahagathbandhan to contest seven seats on its own. It gave indirect support to the alliance in the 2015.

In 2025, the Mahagathbandhan is facing major internal tensions over seat-sharing, with RJD and Congress candidates contesting against each other on several seats.