Jharkhand Municipal Elections Set to Break Alliance Formula: JMM and Congress Go Head-to-Head, BJP Poised for Showdown

Ranchi, Jharkhand, Feb 12, 2026: The upcoming municipal elections in Jharkhand, scheduled for February 23, are shaping up as a high-stakes triangular contest, with the results to be declared four days later. Held after a five-year gap, this cycle of elections is unique as it is being conducted on a non-party basis, a move that has significantly altered the political dynamics.

The ruling India Bloc’s two key allies—the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress—have officially backed candidates for major positions in most municipal bodies. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), traditionally strong in urban centers, is preparing aggressively to contest against both parties. Official support has been declared for candidates in nine municipal corporations for mayoral positions, as well as in 20 municipal councils and 19 town panchayats across the state.

Non-Party Polls Change the Game

The deadline for withdrawing nominations was February 8. Due to the inability to agree on joint candidates, both JMM and Congress have fielded their own nominees, particularly in the nine key municipal corporations. The National People’s Party (RJD) is also part of the alliance but has limited presence in urban areas. On the other hand, BJP faces little resistance from regional allies such as AJSU, JD(U), and LJP (Ram Vilas faction) in these polls.

JMM and Congress leaders have downplayed the perceived discord, emphasizing that the elections are non-party and local issues dominate the contest. Congress spokesperson Sonal Shanti said, “These are not assembly or Lok Sabha elections. Municipal elections are fought on hyper-local issues, which vary from one body to another. This is an opportunity for grassroots workers to prove their capabilities.” Similarly, JMM spokesperson Manoj Pan stated that without party symbols, local factors and individual candidate credibility become decisive. The party is backing candidates who are already active locally and some who have recently joined, inspired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s governance.

Alliance Tested, Urban Focus Intensifies

Sources from within JMM and Congress indicate that the breakdown in alliance coordination stems from JMM’s efforts to expand its urban footprint. Jharkhand’s nine municipal corporations—Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Deoghar, Hazaribagh, Giridih, and Medininagar—are traditionally BJP strongholds. A senior JMM leader noted that while JMM has historically been strong in rural areas (winning nearly 90% of its 34 assembly seats from villages), BJP still dominates major towns and cities. After six consecutive years in power, JMM is now testing its strength in urban Jharkhand by supporting strong local candidates, including some former dissidents from other parties.

Congress Perspective

Congress leaders point out that the non-party nature of the polls levels the playing field, allowing JMM to experiment in urban areas without relying on party symbols. For instance, former Dhanbad BJP mayor Chandra Shekhar Agrawal is now the official JMM candidate for Koila Nagar Municipal Corporation, highlighting the fluid political alignments. While all parties support their respective candidates, the absence of party symbols reduces the traditional party influence, creating opportunities for strong local leaders to consolidate support. This strategy may strengthen JMM’s foothold in urban Jharkhand.