The JMM-led coalition government in Jharkhand hit back at the BJP by questioning its ‘intention’ by not granting a separate Sarna code in the census
after the BJP’s Jharkhand election-in-charge and Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan vowed to implement National Register of Citizen (NRC) if voted to power in the poll-bound state.

By Monday afternoon, chief minister Hemant Soren himself led the charge against the BJP by directing deputy commissioners of all the 24 districts to ensure Election Commission of India (ECI) rules are strictly adhered to and FIR to be registered against offenders as per legal provisions.

The chief minister also shared the ECI’s letter on May 2, 2024, directing political parties to cease enrolling/registering voters for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes under the guise of surveys.

“The step has been taken after BJP leaders filled up forms for their Gogo Didi Yojana for women ahead of the Assembly poll. BJP leaders were asking to fill up forms for its proposed scheme for women, promising financial assistance of ₹ 2,100 per month, in violation of ECI norms that prohibit political parties to enrol voters for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes,” JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted that until the ECI notification comes, every political party has the right to go ahead with its programmes.

“The Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct comes into effect from the date of the election notification. Until the issuance of such notification, every political party is within its right to carry out party programs. As long as we are not violating any rules or constitutional provisions, any interference in our activities will be deemed to be illegal,” Sarma, who is also the election co-incharge for Jharkhand, wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, Chouhan addressing the media at Ranchi said that the BJP government will ensure the implementation of the NRC in Jharkhand.

He blamed undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh for demographic changes in the state adding that the population of Scheduled Tribes in the Santhal Pargana has reduced from 44% to 28%.

Chouhan while speaking to a news agency alleged that Soren and his JMM have fostered undocumented immigrants for vote bank politics.

“Illegal immigrants are getting Aadhaar cards, which is a dangerous trend for the country and young girls are being trapped by their youth to wrest control of their land,” he added.