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In a significant development, Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), a crucial member of the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), has unveiled its first list of candidates for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh polls on November 17. The move follows the breakdown of alliance talks with the Congress party.
JD(U) general secretary Afaque Ahmed Khan, who disclosed the initial list on Tuesday, stated that the party was unable to secure a deal with the Congress. Khan revealed, “JD(U) will contest approximately 10-12 seats, with a second list to be released shortly.”
This makes JD(U) the third non-Congress party within the INDIA bloc to announce its candidates, following the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party. The party, led by Nitish Kumar, had previously contested in Madhya Pradesh in 2003, 2008, and 2013 without substantial success.
SP, in its bid to expand nationally, has fielded 45 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh elections. The party’s leader, Akhilesh Yadav, indicated willingness to engage with Congress for an alliance, but he criticized the Congress for alleged betrayal. Yadav clarified that the INDIA bloc was primarily at the national level, questioning whether it extended to state-level alliances.
Notably, INDIA constituents resolved in September to contest the 2024 elections collaboratively, initiating seat-sharing arrangements promptly and concluding them in a spirit of cooperation. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Mizoram will hold elections between November 7 and 30, with results declared on December 3. These elections represent the first major political exercise since the formation of the INDIA bloc in July, comprising 26 Opposition parties uniting against the BJP.
It’s worth mentioning that the Congress, which had previously wrested power from the BJP in key states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, witnessed a significant setback in the 2019 general elections, highlighting the evolving dynamics of political power in these regions.
