Ranchi: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided to go solo in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Jharkhand, announcing its intention to contest eight out of the 14 seats in the state.
The party, which currently has no representation in the Lower House of Parliament from Jharkhand, made the announcement after the BJP revealed its candidates.
The CPI's decision to contest independently comes as talks between the Congress and the 'Mahagathbandhan' alliance regarding seat-sharing have not taken place.
CPI state secretary Mahendra Pathak stated, "The BJP has announced its candidates, but the Congress and the 'Mahagathbandhan' have not yet held any talks on seat-sharing. So, we have decided to go solo."
The decision was finalized during the party's state executive committee meeting. The CPI is set to field candidates in Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Koderma, Chatra, Palamu, Giridih, Dumka, and Jamshedpur Lok Sabha constituencies.
Candidate names will be disclosed post-March 16.
Currently, of the 14 seats in the state, the BJP holds 11, AJSU party one, JMM one, and the Congress has one. However, the Congress' sole MP, Geeta Kora, recently shifted allegiance to the BJP.