Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the INDIA bloc will contest the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections together, media reports said.

The Congress and ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) fielding candidates in 70 out of the 81 seats, reported NDTV.

While details on seat-sharing are yet to be finalized, Soren noted that discussions with alliance partners, including the RJD and Left parties, are ongoing for the remaining 11 seats, according to the report.

The elections will take place in two phases, on November 13 and 20, with votes being counted on November 23.

In the previous election, the JMM contested 43 seats and the Congress 31. However, this time, Congress is expected to contest around 27 to 28 seats, while the JMM might increase its share, as Soren is seen as a strong figure in the alliance, the report said, citing sources.

The Communist Party of India (M-L) and the Marxist Coordination Committee are also considering joining forces with the JMM and Congress.

The RJD, which contested seven seats last time, is expected to reduce its count, potentially ceding the Bagodar seat to CPI (M-L) and Nirsa to the MMC.

Soren’s announcement followed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s seat-sharing revelation, where the BJP will contest 68 seats, with allies AJSU taking 10, JD(U) two, and LJP one seat.

BJP leader Pratul Shah Deo called this NDA coalition the strongest in Jharkhand’s history, criticizing Soren’s government as the most corrupt the state has seen.

In 2019, the JMM secured 30 seats, the Congress 16, and the RJD one, forming a coalition government.

The BJP won 25 seats, down from 37 in 2014, while AJSU, running independently, won two seats.