SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 9: The seat-sharing formula in the INDI Alliance has triggered a stampede in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in Dhanbad.
Two JMM stalwarts, Ashok Mandal and Dharnidhar Mandal along with their supporters have left the party and joined the regional party Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) of Jairam Mahto and the BJP respectively.
For face-saving, the JMM has expelled both leaders from the party for six years.
Though Dharnidhar Mandal son of two times MLA (Phulchandra Mandal) is not contesting the election like Ashok Mandal, he has returned to his old party (BJP) and campaigning for BJP Sindri candidate Tara Devi (wife of sitting MLA Indrajit Mahto).
Ashok Mandal and Dharnidhar Mandal both were considered pillars of the JMM in the Nirsa and Sindri constituencies. After they departed from respective constituencies, political pundits say the JMM has become headless in the region.
In the 2019 assembly elections, Ashok Mandal and former MLA Phulchandra Mandal (father of Dharnidhar Mandal) both contested from Nirsa and Sindri seats on the JMM ticket but lost to the BJP. Ashok Mandal was in third position while Phulchandra Mandal on the 4th spot.
In this assembly elections both the leaders were again aspiring to contest but the INDI Alliance disappointed them as both Nirsa and Sindri seats have gone to the CPIML.
Dhanbad has six assembly seats in which under the INDI Alliance the Congress has been given Dhanbad Sadar, Jharia and Baghmara while the CPIML got Sindri and Nirsa. The JMM has got a lone Tundi seat where its sitting MLA Mathura Prasad Mahto is contesting.
In the 2019 elections, the JMM had an alliance with the Cong and both the parties shared three seats each. One of the major political forces of the Dhanbad, the Marxists Coordination Committee (MCC) of AK Roy had contested alone.
Since the MCC merged with the CPIML in October 2024 and Dipankar Bhattacharya ( CPIML general secretary) joined the INDI Alliance, Nirsa ( former MLA Arup Chatterjee) and Sindri seats ( Babloo Mahto) have been given to the CPIML.
A political Pundit of Dhanbad observed that the JMM has no base in the coal belt. Party leaders of districts aspiring to contest elections have no option but to join another party for a ticket.
However, JMM senior leader Debu Mahto said that their departure would not impact the party as both leaders had lost popularity in the region. In the 2019 elections, Ashok Mandal was in 3rd spot in Nirsa and Phulchand Mandal was in 4th spot in Sindri.
“Moreover, those who enter politics for personal gain can’t stay for long in any organization. We have been at a party for more than 3 decades but never demanded a ticket. To be too ambitious is not good for the individual,” said Debu Mahto.
