Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren continued attacking the BJP during meetings to mark the third phase of Aapki Yojana, Aapki Sarkar, Apke Dwar programme (linking beneficiaries with welfare schemes and addressing grievances at their doorsteps) across the state.
The move is being seen by political observers as a do-or-die approach adopted by the JMM executive president with a few months left for the Lok Sabha elections. The Assembly election in the state is scheduled for the end of 2024.
“Hemant Soren is perhaps the only non-BJP state chief minister who has gone into an election mode, openly criticising previous BJP governments of the state and the Centre several months before the polls. This characteristic is usually seen among senior BJP leaders who seem to be always in election mode.
“It seems Soren has wilfully opted for the do-or-die approach against the BJP with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and federal agencies running after him with graft charges. Only time will tell if this ploy pays dividends for the JMM and newly formed INDIA bloc in the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections,” said veteran Ranchi-based journalist and political observer Faisal Anurag.
Soren on Thursday, while addressing another Sarkar Apke Dwar programme in Garhwa district, again accused the previous BJP governments in the state and the present BJP-led central government of looting Jharkhand’s mineral resources and not paying attention to the welfare of tribals, Dalits and the poor.
“For nearly 20 years, the previous governments led by the Opposition were only keen on looting the state’s mineral resources and under the ‘double engine sarkar’ (2014-2019) for their corporate friends. They did not care for the tribals, Dalits, farmers and poor. When our government started demanding our rights, they started having pain in their stomach and released federal agencies behind us,” said Soren.
Soren has been demanding from the Prime Minister and Union home and coal ministries the outstanding amount of Rs 1,36,042 crore for non-payment of land compensation, common cause dues and washed coal royalty.
