Sher ka bachha to sher hi hoga (lion’s cub will grow into a lion only) was Kalpana Soren’s remark on the BJP’s parivarwaad (dynasty) slur on the JMM and other INDIA bloc parties during the Lok Sabha poll.
Kalpana Murmu Soren, 38, wife of incarcerated former Jharkhand chief minister and JMM executive president Hemant Soren and party’s star campaigner for Lok Sabha poll in Jharkhand and Odisha in an exclusive interview with The Telegraph during her campaign (she is INDIA’s bloc backed JMM candidate for Gandey bypoll scheduled on May 20) at Giridih rubbished the BJP’s allegation of nepotism and dynasty culture.
“Dynasty politics is a non-issue. Sher ka bachha to sher hi hoga. As far as my entry into politics is concerned, I had to take the plunge during a crisis point for my family. My husband was behind bars, I had my elderly parents (JMM patriarch and Rajya Sabha member Shibu Soren is 80 years) and my brother-in-law (JMM leader and Jharkhand minister Basant Soren). On my husband advice, I had to act as a support system for my family and my party (JMM) and be a voice for my husband who has been arrested as part of a deep rooted conspiracy by those in power at the Centre,” said Kalpana, who runs a play school in Ranchi and holds a B-Tech and MBA degree and would be contesting her first elections.
Kalpana made her entry into active politics on March 4 this year addressing the 51st foundation day rally of the JMM at Giridih and since then her speeches at rallies in Delhi, Mumbai and Ranchi have drawn applause from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and senior leaders of the JMM.
Hemant Soren was arrested on an allegation of money laundering over a land scam in Ranchi by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 night after he resigned as chief minister. He is at present under judicial custody at Birsa Munda Central Jail at Hotwar in Ranchi.
Kalpana, who hails from the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha and a mother of two sons, was confident that Hemant will soon be released (on bail). “I have full faith in the judiciary and am confident that Hemant will soon get bail and join us in the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls,” said Kalpana.
Jharkhand High Court earlier this week rejected Hemant’s plea challenging his arrest while his special leave petition on the same is being heard in the Supreme Court.
Kalpana firmly believes that there is no dearth of good leaders in the five-decade-old JMM which is heading the coalition government in the state (along with the Congress and the RJD).
“There is no crisis of leaders in the JMM. We have senior leaders in the form of chief minister Champai Soren and even Guruji (Shibu Soren) to advise us along with Hemant. After the arrest of Hemant ji every karyakarta and senior leaders have been very supportive,” said Kalpana.
