The JMM, which is heading the coalition government in Jharkhand with the Congress and the RJD, has accused the Narendra Modi-led government of ignoring moolvasis (original settlers) and sons of the soil in their cabinet.

Two Jharkhand MPs were given cabinet berths in the Modi-led NDA government on Sunday.

JMM central general secretary and party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya on Monday told the media: “While we are happy at Annapurna Devi (Koderma MP) being inducted into the cabinet as she is a daughter from Santhal Pargana (Dumka) and bahu of Koderma but it is surprising that not a single son of the soil or moolvasi (original settler) from the state were considered for the cabinet. The other cabinet berth (minister of state) was given to Sanjay Seth (Ranchi MP) who remained silent for five years on the ailing PSU Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) Limited,” alleged Bhattacharya.

He added: “We are surprised that despite having several senior MPs who are moolvasis of Jharkhand, they were not considered in the cabinet. Even the BJP’s old ally AJSU, which has one MP who is a moolvasi, was not considered for the cabinet berth while other allies of the NDA got cabinet berth.”

AJSU MP Chandraprakash Chaudhary, elected from Giridih, is a second-time MP from Jharkhand and originally hails from Ramgarh district.

Supriyo Bhattacharya said that a total of seven places were still vacant in the Union cabinet and he demanded that out of these, one more cabinet minister and one minister of state with independent charge should be given to Jharkhand.

A total of 72 ministers have taken the oath of office and secrecy on Sunday evening.

The JMM leader claimed that things were not well in the BJP.

“Big leaders of Jharkhand BJP are not happy with the swearing-in ceremony and the party headquarters did not have any celebration and only a few symbolic celebrations were held in some parts of Ranchi,” Supriyo claimed.

He asked both the MPs, who have been inducted into the cabinet of the Modi government, to give priority to the revival of the HEC (in Ranchi), ensure the Sarna religion code for tribals, 27 per cent reservation for the OBCs and amendment to the tinkering done on the labour laws by the earlier Modi government.