Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched a sharp attack on the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance during a rally in Ranchi, calling them “fused Diwali crackers” and describing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a “mighty rocket” poised to take Jharkhand to new heights. Singh’s comments were made ahead of the two-phase Jharkhand Assembly elections, set for November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.
BJP’s Vision for Jharkhand’s Future
Speaking at a rally in Ranchi’s Hatia, Singh claimed that it was clear who would form the next government in Jharkhand. He alleged that the JMM, Congress, and RJD were like “fused Diwali crackers,” implying they were ineffective and would fail to deliver for the state. In contrast, he praised the BJP, claiming it would take Jharkhand to newer heights.
Singh also referred to Mandal Murmu, a former supporter of Chief Minister Hemant Soren who later joined the BJP, as part of the party’s growing influence in the region.
Criticism of JMM and Allegations Against Tribal Interests
The Defence Minister did not hold back in his criticism of the JMM. He accused the party of exploiting the tribal community, stating that “JMM means Jamkar Malai Maro” (skim the cream), and alleged the party “sucks the blood of tribals.” Singh claimed that the JMM works against the best interests of Jharkhand’s tribal population.
Singh questioned Chief Minister Hemant Soren, asking why “infiltrators” were allowed into Jharkhand and why the state’s tribal population had declined to 28%. He asserted that the BJP would change the state’s fortunes if given two terms, bringing Jharkhand into the ranks of developed states.
PM Modi’s “Ghuspaithiya Bandhan” Remark
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also launched a scathing attack on the JMM-led alliance during a rally in Garhwa. He accused the coalition of supporting “Bangladeshi infiltrators,” which, he said, posed a threat to Jharkhand’s tribal community. Modi referred to the alliance as a “Ghuspaithiya Bandhan” (infiltrators’ alliance) and criticized their “appeasement politics.”
Modi added that the tribal population in the state was at risk of further decline if the JMM-led alliance continued its policies, accusing the coalition of becoming “Mafia ka Ghulam” (slaves of the mafia).
Election Details and Voter Demographics
The Jharkhand Assembly elections will be held in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23. A total of 2.6 crore voters are eligible to participate, including 1.31 crore male voters, 1.29 crore female voters, and a significant number of first-time and young voters, totaling 78.68 lakh.
In the 2019 Jharkhand elections, the JMM won 30 seats, while the BJP secured 25, and the Congress won 16 seats. The 2014 elections saw a stronger BJP performance, securing 37 seats, while the JMM won 19 and the Congress only 6.
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