In poll-bound Jharkhand, BJP ally LJP decides to go 'solo'
What's the story
For Bharatiya Janata Party, its allies are causing more headaches than the opposition could. After a bitter divorce with Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, another ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has gone awry. The party isn't happy with the seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly polls and has decided to go solo, Chirag Paswan announced on Twitter a short while ago. Here's what happened.
Background
Initially, LJP had demanded six seats from BJP
Polls in Jharkhand will be held in five phases, starting November 30. Chief Minister Raghubar Das (from BJP) is hoping to retain the state. Notably, LJP demanded six seats, namely Jarmundi, Nala, Hussainabad, Barkagaon, Latehar, and Panki, from BJP. However, on Sunday, BJP released its first list of 52 candidates, fielding its leaders from some of these seats, infuriating LJP.
Looking back
Last time, LJP contested one seat, lost
This development came after LJP expressed the desire of fighting polls for 81-seated Assembly under the NDA banner. It should be noted that in 2014 polls, LJP contested only one seat and lost. While their poor performance may have driven BJP to not give in to LJP's demands, Paswan on Monday declared they didn't want "token" seats from the saffron party.
Quote
Paswan explained logic for dismissing BJP's offer
"If we are offered seats under the alliance where our party (LJP) is not prepared properly or does not have strong candidates, then we will not contest such seats," Paswan, the party's national president, said yesterday.
Announcement
Paswan said first list of candidates will be out soon
A day after he fumed at BJP, Paswan announced his party will contest polls on 50 seats. "The Lok Janshakti Party has decided it will contest 50 seats alone. The first list of party candidates will be announced this evening," he tweeted. To recall, before Lok Sabha polls too, LJP and BJP's relationship hit a roadblock after the latter demanded more seats.
AJSU
Separately, AJSU is also displeased with BJP
Another ally, AJSU, is also upset with BJP for the same reason. The party, which helped BJP form the government last time, wants 19 seats but BJP isn't willing to give more than 9. In fact, defying BJP, AJSU fielded a candidate from Chakradharpur seat. The saffron party had already named Laxman Gilua from the aforementioned seat. They are now "re-negotiating" the terms.