All is not well within the ruling alliance in Jharkhand. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Congress may be partners in power, but their relationship is becoming increasingly strained and it’s starting to worry leaders beyond the state.
At the center of the trouble is Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s tight grip on power. Congress ministers in the government say they are being sidelined, with little say in key decisions. According to sources, several Congress leaders have grown frustrated, feeling they’re being treated more like silent spectators than active participants in governance.
What’s making matters worse is the political math in the Jharkhand Assembly. Out of 81 total seats, JMM holds 34, Congress has 16, and other smaller allies like the RJD and CPI(ML) contribute a few more. Together, the alliance controls 56 seats, well above the 41 needed for a majority. But here’s the catch: even without Congress, JMM remains the largest party and can likely hold onto power with minimal external support.
This reality gives Soren a strong upper hand. He doesn’t need Congress to stay in power, which explains why he’s not too eager to share decision-making space. However, he’s still keeping the Congress in the coalition, possibly to maintain the image of a united opposition under the INDI alliance, which includes several national and regional parties fighting against the BJP-led NDA.
The Congress high command, however, is getting anxious. If the friction in Jharkhand escalates, it could damage the larger alliance at a national level. The INDI bloc is trying to present a united front ahead of upcoming elections, and a public breakdown in one of its key states would hurt that image badly.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders in Jharkhand are pushing for more autonomy and influence. They’ve been advocating for stronger policies on tribal rights, education reservations, and Dalit welfare. But with limited say in the government, these efforts are not getting much traction. They are also learnt to have reached out to the Congress’ high command for resolving the issue. However, the Congress leadership is seemingly reluctant to intervene, fearing a backlash from Soren.
Soren, confident in his party’s numbers, seems to be managing the Congress more out of political necessity than genuine partnership. By keeping them in the fold, he avoids creating a public split. But behind closed doors, the balance of power is clearly tilted in JMM’s favor.
In the bigger picture, what’s happening in Jharkhand reflects a larger challenge facing opposition politics in India: managing alliances with unequal partners. For the INDI bloc to survive and succeed, it must find ways to keep everyone on board, even when power-sharing isn’t equal. Jharkhand could be the first real test of how well that cooperation works in practice.
If JMM and Congress fail to resolve their issues, it won’t just be a state-level problem—it could ripple out, shaking the foundations of the national opposition coalition as well.
Why Jharkhand is important for Congress
For Congress, being part of the ruling coalition in Jharkhand is more than just a power-sharing arrangement—it’s a strategic necessity. With its electoral strength diminished in the state, the party relies on the alliance with JMM to maintain a role in governance and stay politically visible. Holding ministerial positions allows Congress to influence policy, represent its voter base, and show that the INDI alliance can work at the state level. Stepping away from the government, or being sidelined completely, would only deepen its struggles in a region where it is already trying to regain lost ground.
This need becomes even more urgent given the current situation in Karnataka, where Congress is facing internal divisions and growing dissatisfaction with its performance. Karnataka was one of the few major wins for the party recently, but ongoing challenges there have put pressure on its leadership. Losing grip in Jharkhand at the same time could send a damaging message, that Congress is unable to hold its own, even within friendly alliances. Staying in power in Jharkhand gives the party a platform to stay relevant, both locally and as part of a larger national opposition strategy.
