10 November, 2024; In a recent visit to Garhwa, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also serves as the BJP’s co-in-charge for Jharkhand, addressed local media with remarks targeted at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Sarma criticized Soren’s focus on his (Sarma’s) political activities, suggesting that Soren should be more concerned about the future of his own party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and its alliance with the Congress. Sarma’s pointed remarks reflect the BJP’s confidence as the Jharkhand assembly elections draw closer.
“Hemant Soren should stop thinking about what I am doing. He should think about the JMM and Congress. Both of them are losing,” Sarma stated, indicating that the BJP perceives a weakened position for the JMM-Congress alliance within Jharkhand’s political landscape. This comment follows several recent confrontations between the BJP and the ruling alliance, with the BJP criticizing the JMM-led government over issues related to development, corruption, and alleged mismanagement of state resources.
Sarma’s remarks reflect the BJP’s strategy to shift focus onto issues within the JMM-Congress alliance, which has faced internal challenges in the lead-up to the elections. With his experience as Assam’s Chief Minister and BJP leader, Sarma has become an influential figure in BJP’s campaigns outside Assam, and his direct engagement with Jharkhand’s political landscape suggests that the BJP is serious about making significant inroads in the state.
The JMM-Congress alliance, on the other hand, has been working to consolidate its support base, focusing on social welfare programs and rural development. However, the BJP has been actively working to highlight what it sees as governance lapses, while promoting its own vision for the state.
As Jharkhand gears up for a competitive election, Sarma’s statements serve as a reminder of the intense rivalry that is likely to shape the political atmosphere in the coming months.
