Assam CM Sarma exudes confidence in BJP forming govt in Jharkhand

Ranchi (Jharkhand) [India], October 19 (ANI): BJP's Jharkhand assembly co-incharge and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma exuded confidence in the party forming the government in Jharkhand.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, CM Sarma said, "Our government will be formed here (in Jharkhand)."
"Discussions are going on regarding seat sharing. As of now, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) will contest on 10 seats. Janata Dal (United) on 2 seats and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) on one seat. There can be some adjustments on a few seats later, but this is the picture as of now," CM Sarma said.
Assembly polls in Jharkhand will be held in two phases on November 13 and November 20. Votes will be counted on November 23.
Earlier in the day, the BJP announced the first list of 66 candidates for the Jharkhand Assembly elections.
Among the candidates is party's state chief Babulal Marandi, who is set to contest from Dhanwar, Lobin Hembrom from Borio and Sita Soren from Jamtara. The former Chief Minister of Jharkhand Champai Soren has been nominated as the candidate from Saraikella, Geeta Balmuchu from Chaibasa, Geeta Koda from Jaganathpur and wife of Union Minister Arjun Munda, Meera Munda has been nominated from Potka.
BJP will contest the polls along with NDA allies- All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), the party said on Friday.
According to the current agreement, AJSU will contest on 10 seats, JDU on 2 seats and LJP will contest the lone seat of Chatra, and BJP will contest on remaining 68 seats.
The nomination process has started for the first phase of Jharkhand polls.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that INDIA bloc will contest the Jharkhand Assembly polls together and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress will contest 70 of 81 seats in the state assembly.
Soren said the remaining seats will be contested by other parties of INDIA alliance and talks are underway with RJD and Left parties.
Ghulam Ahmed Mir, who is Congress incharge of Jharkhand, was also present at the press conference.
"INDIA bloc will contest the Jharkhand Assembly polls together. It has been decided that 70 seats in the state will be contested by the JMM and Congress. The rest of the seats will be discussed upon further," Soren said.
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha as part of the UPA (United Progressive alliance) contested 43 seats, Congress contested 31 seats and the Rashtriya Janata Dal seven seats in the 81-member assembly.
The UPA attained victory by winning 47 seats against BJP's 25 seats. (ANI)