Alliance Partners Clash Over Mayor Candidates in Jharkhand Civic Body Polls
The upcoming civic body elections in Jharkhand, scheduled for later this month, are witnessing significant political maneuvering as divisions surface within the state's ruling alliance. All major political parties, including the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have officially endorsed candidates for mayoral positions across the 48 urban local bodies, even though these elections are formally conducted without party symbols.
Ranchi Municipal Corporation: A Three-Way Contest
In the high-stakes race for the Ranchi Municipal Corporation's mayoral post, the JMM has thrown its weight behind Sujit Vijay Anand Kujur. The Congress party, meanwhile, has extended its support to former mayor Rama Khalkho. Notably, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has not yet officially declared support for any candidate in this contest.
On the opposing side, the BJP has endorsed Roshni Khalkho as its mayoral candidate for the RMC, setting the stage for a competitive three-way battle in the state capital.
JMM's Confident Stance on Civic Poll Strategy
A JMM general secretary clarified the party's position on Friday, stating, "Alliances in Lok Sabha and assembly elections operate under different dynamics. However, for these civic body polls, our primary alliance is with the people of Jharkhand. We will support party-backed candidates in all 48 urban local bodies and are confident that JMM-supported candidates will secure the top positions across every municipality."
Hazaribag: Alliance Discord Intensifies
The political landscape in Hazaribag has become particularly contentious following the JMM's formal endorsement of social worker and party leader Vikas Rana for the mayor's post. This decision has sparked visible discontent within ally Congress, which had previously declared support for Tasleem Ansari in the same electoral race.
Initially, Congress leaders expressed hope that the JMM would withdraw its candidate to preserve alliance unity. However, Friday's official announcement of JMM backing for Rana dashed those expectations, further exacerbating political tensions between the coalition partners.
Internal Deliberations and Strategic Calculations
JMM district secretary Neelkanth Mahto explained that the decision to support Rana was made with approval from both district and central party committees. He revealed that multiple party leaders had filed nominations for the mayor's position, necessitating extensive deliberations before reaching a final decision.
Surjeet Nagwala, working president of the State Congress OBC Morcha, offered perspective on the situation: "Since this election is not conducted on formal party lines, the JMM has also entered the contest. Essentially, the JMM aims to strengthen its organizational presence in Hazaribag and has identified what it considers the optimal candidate for this purpose." He added that this development should not permanently damage the alliance relationship between the parties.
The civic polls are revealing underlying tensions within Jharkhand's political framework as parties balance local ambitions with broader alliance commitments, setting the stage for intriguing electoral outcomes across the state's urban centers.
