The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces growing internal pressure in Jharkhand, not from rivals, but from its Bihar allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Parties like the Janata Dal (United) [JDU] and the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) [LJP-R] have expressed their intent to contest the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections.
JDU, led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has already announced its intention to contest in the state, supported by former minister Saryu Roy. JDU’s executive national president Sanjay Jha stated that talks with the BJP are ongoing, with JDU demanding 11 seats. Similarly, LJP-R leader Chirag Paswan has also declared his party's plan to contest 28 seats, while Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi has indicated that his party is conducting an assessment to identify potential constituencies.
These developments add complexity to the BJP’s electoral strategy in Jharkhand, where it already has a local alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU). Negotiations with Bihar-based allies could reshape the NDA’s strategy in the state, as the BJP seeks to balance its internal partnerships.
BJP's road to the Jharkhand elections is becoming increasingly complicated, as NDA allies from Bihar seek a share of the electoral landscape. Negotiations will determine whether a unified front can be maintained or if internal divisions will impact the party’s performance.
