Hemant Soren has established himself as the undisputed leader in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and been single-handedly challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 39-year-old chief minister of Jharkhand has played the tribal card aggressively, even inviting an FIR in Dumka for violating model code of conduct for his statement that there will be large-scale bloodshed if attempts were made by the Centre to alter the Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act. Campaigning for the third phase of elections, Soren dismissed any ‘Modi wave’ in the state. In an interview with Suman K Shrivastava, he was confident that the JMM would win ‘enough number’ of seats to retain power. Excerpts:
On the JMM’s poll prospects.
Our candidates have performed well in all the 33 constituencies which went to polls in the last two phases. We are fully confident that the JMM will be ahead of any political party in terms of vote percentage and seats.
On the reasons of confidence.
We are confident because we lead the community of dalits, adivasis, backwards and minorities who participate in the elections. We have tried to convince them with our viewpoints. We have assured them to provide a stable government which can undertake real development in Jharkhand.
On Modi’s connect with the youth.
We need not worry. Modi might have charmed the youths in urban areas, but not in villages. He talks of jobs in IT and Australia. But he has no blueprint for development of agriculture. He talks of swachchta abhiyan. This again is meant for cities where people litter the streets. On the contrary, 95 per cent of villages present a clean picture. He talks of how he laid a big size pipe to supply drinking water in Gujarat, but silent on how he will do it in Jharkhand.
On Congress-RJD’s refusal to alliance.
Their refusal to forge a pre-poll alliance helped me find better ways to develop the state. We would not have been so confident and reached across the state, had we fought the elections together.
On playing tribal card aggressively.
The BJP has never allowed a tribal leader to take centre stage. It did not allow Guruji (Shibu Soren) to perform and undertake measures for development of Jharkhandi people. They have demoralised the tribals, branding them that they are not competent enough to run the state of affairs. The BJP has been in power for at least 10 years and yet could not develop a tribal leader whom it could project as a chief minister. On the other hand, during 15 months I have proved that a tribal could run the state efficiently. Four per cent of population coming from Bihar and UP want to take control of the state, which we will not allow. The JMM had got Jharkhand created after a long struggle. We will fight to get power.
On Modi’s ‘baap-bete ki sarkar’ jibe.
Is there no family rule in Jharkhand? How come Jayant Sinha, son of former finance minister Yashwant Sinha became a minister? It should look at dynastic politics in Rajasthan. There are several examples of family rule in the BJP. East India Company also came here to trade in tea and later captured the country. Modi, also a former chaiwala, is readying to sell Jharkhand. He has set his eyes on the vast natural resources of Jharkhand. Jiske ghar shise ke hon, dusre par pathar nahi pheka karte (Those who live in glasshouse should not throw stone at others).