West Bengal Polls: Congress' national ally JMM supports Trinamool

Despite being an ally of the Congress in Jharkhand under the INDIA bloc, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has decided not to contest the West Bengal Assembly elections and will instead support the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

"Our leader shares a warm relationship with Mamata Banerjee. To stop the BJP, which is trying to win through the Election Commission, JMM will not contest and will back the TMC. Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Kalpana Soren will campaign for the party," JMM leader Vijay Hansdak said.

JMM had contested three Assembly elections in West Bengal, last in 2011.


The move contrasts with its strategy in Assam, where seat-sharing talks with the Congress broke down. After seeking 30 seats and being offered only five to six, JMM fielded candidates in 21 constituencies-17 against the Congress and four against its allies-mainly in tea-tribe and Upper Assam regions with significant Santhal populations.

The assertive stance mirrors earlier tensions within the INDIA bloc, with JMM leaders having flagged dissatisfaction during the Bihar elections last year over seat-sharing, warning it could impact future alliances.