CPI(M-L) Rejects Cross-Voting Claims in Jharkhand Rajya Sabha Polls

The controversy erupted after Jharkhand Congress Minister Irfan Ansari accused alliance partners, specifically the RJD and CPI(M-L), of stabbing the coalition in the back. Ansari claimed these parties deceived their allies during the critical vote, triggering widespread speculation about the internal stability of the INDIA bloc. In response, Bhattacharya confirmed that he has formally written to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify that his party members strictly followed the pre-election mandate.

Simultaneously, the RJD has distanced itself from the allegations, with National General Secretary Bhola Yadav insisting that all four of their MLAs cast their ballots in line with the bloc’s strategy. The friction highlights deep-seated tensions within the coalition, even as the BJP-led NDA continues to maneuver in an 81-member assembly where the INDIA bloc holds a significant numerical advantage of 56 seats. With the NDA needing 28 first-preference votes to secure a berth, the fallout from these accusations threatens to further complicate coordination among opposition partners.