Out of power in Bihar, RJD seeks to expand base in Jharkhand with Tejashwi's monthly visit

Out of power in Bihar for 4 years, RJD is w looking to expand its presence in Jharkhand where it mand to win only a single seat in 2019 Assembly polls. On Wednesday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav held a meeting with party leaders from Jharkhand such as Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, Satyanand Bhokta and Sanjay Prasad Yadav in this regard. Speaking to media later, former Bihar Deputy CM asserted that he would visit Jharkhand on third Sunday of every month to review party's functioning.

He added, "Jharkhand has been a fertile pinnacle for Rashtriya Janata Dal. We lost few seats last time with less margin. We had a detailed discussion over this issue."

Assembly polls in Jharkhand

In 2014 assembly election, BJP-led alliance had won 42 out of 81 seats in Jharkhand Assembly elections. While BJP emerged as single-largest party winning 37 seats, its pre-poll ally All Jharkhand Students Union won 5 seats helping it form government. Raghubar Das-led dispensation became first government in state's history to complete its full 5-year term. Before this, Jharkhand witnessed 9 governments between 2000 and 2014 including three stints of President's Rule.

2019 Assembly polls were conducted in 5 phases. While polls commenced on vember 30, or phases of voting took place on December 7, 12, 16 and 20.  approximate voter turut for all 81 assembly constituencies of Jharkhand was 65.17%. Defeating BJP, opposition alliance comprising Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Rashtriya Janata Dal secured 47 seats, which is more than halfway mark in Jharkhand Assembly with a combined vote share of 35.35%. On or hand, incumbent BJP won from only 25 constituencies with a vote share of 33.37%.

However, close scrutiny of poll results data indicates that BJP could have been in a position to form government once again if y had a pre-poll alliance with AJSU. Out of 81 constituencies, 15 of m stand out as far as BJP’s fortunes are concerned. In se seats, AJSU has polled more votes than loss margin of BJP. In eventuality that both parties would have contested polls toger, opposition alliance would have lost 13 seats. In such a scenario, BJP-led alliance could have secured 40 seats in contrast to Congress-JMM-RJD tie-up's tally of 34 seats, ensuring its return to power.