Saturday, January 15 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: In a game of political one-up-manship with the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), the JMM (Jharkand Mukti Morcha) today (Jan 15, 2005) reneged on its promise about not touching the seats represented by RJD and announced to field candidates in those constituencies as well.

Declaring the second list of seats to be contested by the JMM in the first phase, party chief Shibu Soren, however, said "doors for talks are still open as the withdrawal date is January 20 for the first phase."

Six out of the eight seats Soren announced today were represented by the RJD and one by the CPI (Communist Party of India).

The JMM supremo, who only last night made a fervent appeal to RJD chief Laloo Prasad to refrain from fielding candidates against his party nominees, however was not categorical on how many seats he would withdraw in case the two sides reached any understanding.

The names of the candidates, the Coal Minister said, would be announced on January 17, the last date for filing nomination for the first phase elections on February 3.

The names of candidates in the first list, comprising nine seats, were announced earlier.

Justifying his decision Soren said despite the JMM and the Congress leaving nine seats to the RJD and four to the Left parties, Laloo disagreed.

"So the decision to field JMM candidates in RJD's sitting seats was made after extensive deliberations among our party leaders," the Union Minister added.

Taking strong exception to the Congress and the JMM 'unilaterally' deciding on January 7 to contest 33 and 35 seats respectively, the RJD supremo had said he would field 57 candidates while leaving the rest to the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) and the Left parties in Jharkhand.

Soren however maintained that he had all respects for Laloo despite the RJD not asking the JMM whether it was interested for a tie-up in Bihar too. The JMM would contest in ten seats in Bihar, he said.

"Before talking to the Congress, I had a long discussion with Laloo Prasad, but not even once he bothered to offer any seat to us in Bihar," Soren said and added the RJD did not believe in JMM's strength in the contiguous areas of Bihar.