Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale has invited Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is heading a coalition government in the state, to join National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to reap benefits of double engine government. He mentioned that the tribal outfit could also seek portfolios in the centre. Athawale’s comments came on a day when chief minister Hemant Soren’s party launched a scathing attack at the central government for stifling the voice of dissent and burdening the common man with price hikes.

The union minister was on a day long tour of the state during which he also visited Ramgarh and spoke also to the media in Ranchi.

During his interaction he said, “I have appealed to Shibu Soren and Hemant Soren to join NDA. We can have a BJP-JMM government here. They (JMM) will also get strengthened in Delhi, which will help in overall development of the state.”

The minister, who is also the president of Republican Party of India, attacked AICC leader Rahul Gandhi over his recent jibe of “Hum do humare do”. Speaking in the Parliament last week during the budget session, Gandhi mocked how the central government being run by two is working for two people only, indirectly taking a dig at two most influential corporate giants (Adanis and Ambanis).

Athawale said, “If Rahul Gandhi believes so much in the slogan, he should do his bit to promote it further by marrying a Dalit girl and set an example against casteism to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi’s vision.”

Significantly, JMM was part of the NDA government between 2009 and 2013. During this period present chief minister Hemant Soren has served the state as its deputy chief minister. However, the alliance broke in January 2013, leading to the fall of Arjun Munda government..

Following which, JMM returned back to UPA fold in 2019 by contesting Lok Sabha and state elections under the ‘mahagatbandhan’ banner. Despite the UPA alliance managing to win only 2 out of 14 parliamentary seats in Jharkhand, it later booted out the BJP government in assembly elections under Hemant Soren’s leadership.

Athawale’s statement invited strong reaction from Congress, which is part of the incumbent regime. In a formal statement, Congress spokesperson and co-working president Rajesh Thakur maintained that the minister’s statement should be seen as indirect confession of the Union government harassing non-BJP ruled states. He said, “We have been crying about funds crunch and step brotherly treatment being met out by the Modi government towards Jharkhand. His statements confirm the fact. A minister should first advise PM and his Sanghi friends on marriage to end casteism.”