Union MSME Minister expresses disappointment over NDA seat snub.

Patna October 18, 2024: Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, has expressed his disappointment after the NDA did not allocate any seat to his party Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular (HAMS) for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections.

Despite his party’s initial demand for 10 seats, which was later reduced to negotiations for five seats and three seats, the BJP did not offer HAMS any seat.

Despite the disappointment, the Union MSME Minister showed solidarity with NDA:

However, the Union MSME Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the NDA, saying, “I am a true soldier of NDA, and will remain in it.”

The Union MSME Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi reflected on his previous experiences, pointing out that despite his party winning just one seat during the Lok Sabha election 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi still appointed him a cabinet minister role, suggesting that seat allocation dynamics are part of the coalition process.

NDA announces seat sharing for Jharkhand assembly poll:

NDA’s seat-sharing formula for Jharkhand announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Bishwa Sarma, who is also in charge of BJP Jharkhand unit, allocated 68 seats to his own party BJP, 10 seats to AJSU, 2 seats to JD(U) and one seat to Chirag Paswan led LJPRV.

This decision has also surprised the JD(U), as its state president Khiru Mahto had claimed until Friday morning that the party was negotiating for 11 seats but it was ultimately given only 2 seats.

BJP wants to capitalize on Chirag Paswan’s popularity in the Jharkhand poll:

The LJPRV’s single seat reflects BJP’s strategy to capitalize on Chirag Paswan’s popularity among the Dalit community in the state, given his strong performance during the Lok Sabha election in Bihar.

LJPRV contested and won all five seats it was given, which solidified his status as an influential figure. The BJP plans to use him as a star campaigner in Jharkhand, banking on his appeal to bolster their chances in the state.

The Jharkhand assembly election will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the result being announced on November 23.

This strategy indicates the BJP’s focus on creating a broader coalition to enhance its electoral prospects by tapping into various key voter demographics, such as the Dalit vote through Paswan’s influence.

Also Read: Jitan Ram Manjhi’s dilemma: Picking the perfect candidate for Imamganj.

EOM.