Ranchi: On Sunday, Union Minister Pabitra Margherita expressed his belief that the people of Jharkhand will support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming assembly elections, predicting a decisive victory for the party. His comments followed a statement by former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on June 29, in which Soren accused the BJP of conspiring against him and claimed that the party would be defeated in the state’s upcoming polls.
Soren, a leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), criticized the BJP for allegedly manipulating constitutional institutions and claimed that the party would be "wiped out" after the assembly elections. He suggested that the BJP’s attempts to advance the election timeline were futile and described their strategies as mere "Mungerilal ke Haseen Sapne" (fantasies of Mungerilal).
Responding to Soren’s remarks, Margherita dismissed the criticism, asserting that like neighboring Odisha, Jharkhand's electorate would back the BJP's vision of a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India). He emphasized that the BJP remains confident in its support across the nation and expressed optimism about securing a strong mandate from Jharkhand. "We believe that the people of Jharkhand will stand with the BJP and PM Modi's ideology of Viksit Bharat. Despite what Mungerilal or others might say, our dream will become a reality," Margherita stated.
Margherita also highlighted the role of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the party's election strategy for Jharkhand, asserting that the BJP enjoys widespread support from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to the Northeast. He reaffirmed his confidence in the BJP's prospects in the state.
Regarding his recent meeting with Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Margherita described it as a courtesy call with no official agenda or discussion. "The Chief Minister’s visit was a respectful gesture and no formal matters were discussed," he noted.
In related news, Hemant Soren was released from Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after the state high court granted him bail in a money laundering case. The court found no prima facie evidence of guilt and ruled that Soren was not likely to commit further offenses while on bail. Soren had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with an investigation into a land scam.
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