Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who has been summoned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) to appear for questioning in alleged money laundering and illegal mining case on Thursday skipped appearing before the ED and at the same time appealed to the tribal people in poll bound Gujarat State not to vote for BJP in upcoming Assembly election.
The Election Commission today announced the poll dates for Gujarat Assembly, which will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5, while the counting of votes and results will be declared on December 8. The 182 legislative members of Gujarat Assembly have 13 constituencies reserved for scheduled castes while 27 constituencies are for scheduled tribes.
Soren addressing party workers from his official residence seeking support from JMM workers said, “Gujarat Mein Ek Bhi Adivasi Seat BJP Ko Na Jaye (not a single tribal seat should go to BJP).” Soren daring the ED and BJP said that the BJP and RSS are anti-tribal and they are not able to digest that a tribal son has become Chief Minister of Jharkhand.
“Why send summons; arrest me if I am guilty,” he told party workers and also in Chhattisgarh, where he reached to attend a tribal programme.
He also said that in the four by-elections in Jharkhand, the BJP could not win a single one. He asked the party workers in Jharkhand to ensure rooting out the BJP in the forthcoming parliamentary and assembly elections. He said after branding that the party (BJP) has a feudal mindset and those associated with it are businessmen, who do not know about giving anything to anyone like people of Jharkhand.
Soren also exuded confidence that the JMM government in Jharkhand will complete its term and not allow the BJP to destabilise a democratically elected government. He said when time comes his party workers will court arrest in a way to protest against the misuse of constitutional institutions by the BJP that jail will have no space to keep them.
Moreover, JMM is planning to campaign against the BJP on 40 seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections. General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya announced this on Thursday.
Meanwhile, there was heavy deployment of police forces outside Ranchi zonal office of ED, BJP office at Harmu in the wake of a notice issued to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the illegal mining case.
Hundreds of JMM workers shouting slogans against the BJP and carrying party flags from across the state gathered at Morhabadi ground.
The protesters – some of them armed with traditional bows and arrows – marched to the chief minister’s residence. The JMM workers claimed that the ED on the directions of the centre was unnecessary, creating a problem for Soren. JMM central spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that workers have gathered voluntarily to show their support to the chief minister who is being “harassed by the BJP by unleashing all forces”.