Jharkhand Assembly Polls: BJP, AJSU End Rift, Float Seat-Sharing Formula

The ongoing rift between the BJP and its ally All Jharkhand Student Union (AJSU) has reportedly been resolved. According to reports, the AJSU will alone contest on 10 seats, while the BJP-AJSU alliance will fight together on three seats. The BJP has convinced the AJSU by giving more seats than previous elections.

If sources are to be believed, BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself had to come forward to decide the seat sharing formula in Jharkhand. On Tuesday, a meeting was held between Shah and AJSU chief Sudesh Mahato after which the formula was decided. The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly is set to go for a five-phase election from November 30 to December 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23. The AJSU, the ruling NDA constituent, named 12 of its candidates on Monday.

Party spokesperson Deosharan Bhagat said, “Party supremo Sudesh Mahto will contest from Silli, Sunita Chaudhary, wife of Giridih MP Chandraprakash Chaudhary, will contest from Ramgarh; MLA from Husainabad Kushwaha Sheopujan Mehta to contest from the same seat, Lambodar Mahto to be the party candidate from Gomia, Roshanlal Chaudhary, former AJSU Party candidate from Barkagaon to contest from the same seat.”

Sahis will contest from Jugsalai seat, Manoj Chandra from Simaria, Sadanand Mahto from Sindari and Ramlal Munda will be the candidate from Chakradharpur, Bhagat added.

On the other hand, the BJP has also announced its candidates for Simaria, Chakardharpur and Sindri in its first list of 52 candidates on Sunday. The party has decided to field Chief Minister Raghuvar Das from Jamshedpur East.