In a fiery address to a public rally in Baharagora on Monday, Union Minister and BJP election in-charge for Jharkhand, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched a scathing attack on the Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government. Chouhan accused the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) administration of fostering crime, corruption, and lawlessness, branding it a "Jurm, Murder, and Mafia" government.

Describing the current regime as a crisis for the state, Chouhan remarked, "Just as the heavy rain clouds bring temporary challenges, the Hemant Soren government represents a far more severe and prolonged crisis for Jharkhand. This is not a JMM government—it is a government of crime, murder, and mafia activities."

Chouhan expressed optimism for a political shift in the state, predicting that the "darkness" prevailing under Soren's rule would soon lift. "Despite the rain and stormy weather, your determination to bring change is evident. The sun will rise, the lotus will bloom, and a new dawn will come to Jharkhand," he declared, rallying the crowd.

Speaking to the media afterward, Chouhan addressed the pressing concerns of Jharkhand’s women, who, according to him, are appealing for protection of their land, daughters, and livelihoods. He accused the current administration of failing to safeguard these fundamental aspects, highlighting fears of foreign infiltration, rising crime rates, and unemployment.

"The mothers, sisters, and daughters of Jharkhand are asking for safety. They are saying their land is threatened by outsiders, their daughters are unsafe, and their bread, their jobs, are disappearing. I assure them that the BJP is committed to protecting Jharkhand's land, ensuring jobs, and safeguarding its daughters," Chouhan stated, pledging that his party would take decisive steps to halt infiltration and boost employment opportunities.

This rally comes as the state prepares for upcoming assembly elections, expected to take place before the end of 2024. A delegation from the Election Commission of India, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, arrived in Ranchi earlier today to review election preparedness. The state’s 81-member legislative assembly is scheduled for polls, with the tenure of the current government set to expire in January 2025.

In the last assembly election, the JMM secured 30 seats, while the BJP won 25 and Congress 16, setting the stage for a tightly contested political battle later this year.