"(JVM chief) Babulal Marandi had assessed that he would get three to four seats in the 2009 assembly elections, but was surprised to win 11. This was because of the pre-poll alliance with the Congress," Balmachu told reporters here.
The votes of the Congress, which had won 14 seats were transferred to the JVM, the Rajya Sabha member said.
"Many of our leaders and workers did not like the idea of a pre-poll alliance with the JVM," Balmachu said.
Reacting to Marandi