Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren declared on Monday that the year 2024 would witness significant political upheavals, anticipating the complete obliteration of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre in the upcoming “mahasangram” or great struggle.
Soren addressed a rally after paying tribute to martyrs at the Kharsawan Martyrs’ Memorial, emphasizing the need for tribal unity and vigilance. He asserted that forces not acknowledging tribals as Adivasi and naming them as Vanvasi have deceived them for two decades. The chief minister urged tribal youths to remain alert and united.
Expressing his predictions for 2024, Soren stated that the BJP, currently in power in some states after recent elections, would face complete elimination after the mahasangram, referencing the political landscape since 2014.
Soren’s statement gained significance amid speculations triggered by JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad’s resignation from the Gandey seat. There are rumors suggesting that Chief Minister Soren might resign, paving the way for his wife, Kalpana Soren, as the next CM.
Critiquing the Kisan Mela organized by the Union government in Kharsawan, Soren criticized the BJP for attempting to finish off farmers with the contentious farm laws. He highlighted the resilience of farmers who protested in Delhi until the withdrawal of the laws.
The chief minister accused the BJP of attempting to destabilize his government since it came to power in 2019. He emphasized the achievements of his government during the COVID-19 pandemic, citing successful containment efforts, the repatriation of migrant workers, and initiatives supporting tribal education.
Soren concluded by stating that the next government would eradicate the label of being a backward and poor state imposed on Jharkhand by the opposing forces.
In response, BJP spokesperson Kunal Sarangi dismissed Soren’s assertions, emphasizing the BJP’s electoral prospects and challenging the Chief Minister’s calculations regarding the party’s tenure in the state.
As political tensions escalate, the coming year seems poised for a dramatic political landscape, with Jharkhand’s Chief Minister envisioning a transformation that could reshape the power dynamics in the region.