Ranchi: Ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections for two seats in the state scheduled on June 18, JMM on Monday wrote to the Election Commission (EC) flagging alleged attempted threat of horse-trading by ‘BJP’.To ensure free and fair polls, JMM also urged EC to direct central agencies — CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Central Vigilance Commission, and Jharkhand Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to remain vigilant during the election process.Alleging the possibility of “large-scale inducement and undue pressure” on MLAs, JMM central general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya wrote, “The alliance — comprising JMM (34 MLAs), Congress (16), RJD (4) and CPI(ML) (2) that formed the govt in state in 2025 — commands a total strength of 56 in the 81-member assembly, which is sufficient to ensure the victory on both the seats. A candidate requires 28 first-preference votes to win.”“BJP, with 21 MLAs, has also announced that it will field a candidate despite lacking the required numbers. Leader of opposition Babulal Marandi and BJP state president Aditya Sahu have said this several times in public. This raises the apprehension that efforts may be made to influence MLAs through financial inducements, unethical external pressure, and intimidation,” the letter added.BJP’s state election committee held a meeting under the aegis of party president Aditya Sahu. State general secretary Amar Kumar Bauri said, “The party has decided to field a candidate on one seat. Further modalities will be announced soon.”BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said, “They (JMM) have probably forgotten that they have the history of ‘cash-for-vote’ politics. During former PM Narasimha Rao govt in the 1990s, JMM MPs took bribes to save the govt.”
