The opposition alliance on Friday declared seat-sharing arrangement for the Jharkhand Assembly polls as per which the JMM will contest 43 seats, Cong 31 and RJD in seven constituencies, in the face of perceived resentment by Lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav.
The seat distribution among the allies was announced by AICC in-charge R P N Singh at a press conference here along with JMM working president Hemant Soren.
The opposition grouping for the crucial assembly polls comprises three partners minus their pre-Lok Sabha poll ally Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantriks) of former chief minister Babulal Marandi, which has already announced to contest all the 81 seats in the state on its own.
There was nobody from the RJD at the press meet.
But, Hemant Soren told reporters that the seat-sharing has been finalised after consulting RJD president Lalu Prasad when asked why RJD leader Tejaswi Yadav, who was in the town, did not join them at the press conference.
"Talks are going on. RJD leaders are here. The alliance is in the knowledge of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. There are some questions and we are sorting them out. All the three alliance partners are on the same page," Soren said when asked why there was no representation from the RJD in the press meet.
The Congress leader said that the opposition will contest the election under Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leadership with Hemant Soren as its chief ministerial candidate.
Singh said there will be no friendly contest and anybody fighting against the official candidate will face action by the respective parties.
Jharkhand will see five-phase polling to the 81 seats between November 30 and December 20 with counting slated on December 23.
Singh said RJD has been given Deoghar, Godda, Koderma, Chatra, Barkatha, Chhatarpur and Hussainabad seats.
He also announced opposition parties contesting the 13 seats going for the first phase election on November 30.
They are Gumla (JMM), Bishunpur (JMM), Lohardaga (Congress), Manika (Congress), Latehar (JMM), Panki (Congress), Chatra (RJD), Daltonganj (Congress), Bishrampur (Congress), Chhatarpur (RJD), Hussainabad (RJD), Garhwa (JMM) and Bhavnathpur (Congress).
Singh said similarly the rest of the seats would be announced in a phase-wise manner.
"The opposition alliance under the leadership of the JMM with its leader Hemant Soren as the chief ministers candidate will fight the elections and fulfill dream of Jharkhand," Singh said.
A RJD leader told PTI, "Tejaswi Yadav met Hemant Soren in Ranchi during the day and now is meeting his father Lalu ji at RIIMS after taking special permission from Birsa Munda Central Jail authorities."
Asked why Yadav was not present in the press conference, he said, "Nothing is clear yet, after Tejaswi Yadav meets with Lalu Yadav can we say anything."
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