#JMM leader joins BJP

[townpostin]

Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren Gets Warm Welcome in BJP

Shiv Shankar Singh welcomes ‘Kolhan Tiger’ to BJP, sees boost for party’s vision Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren has joined the BJP after leaving his former party JMM, strengthening the party’s position. JAMSHEDPUR – Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren has joined the BJP, with party leader Shiv Shankar Singh welcoming the move. Shiv Shankar Singh, a BJP leader and social…

[sharpbharat]

Chandil jmm leader joins bjp :  झामुमो नेता पप्पू वर्मा हजारों समर्थकों के साथ भाजपा में हुए शामिल, चंपाई सोरेन व वरीय भाजपा नेताओं की उपस्थिति में थामा पार्टी का दामन, कहा- भाजपा प्रत्याशी की जीत के लिए जी-जान लगा देंगे

चांडिल : जैसे-जैसे झारखंड में विधानसभा चुनाव नजदीक आ रहे हैं, सत्ताधारी झामुमो की मुश्किलें बढ़ती जा रही हैं. पहले मुख्यमंत्री हेमंत सोरेन की बड़ी भाभी सीता सोरेन, पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री चंपई सोरेन, बोरियो विधायक लोबिन हेम्ब्रम ने पार्टी छोड़ी और अब ईचागढ़ विधानसभा के कद्दावर नेता पप्पू वर्मा ने पार्टी को अलविदा कह दिया है. वे शुक्रवार को समर्थकों के साथ बीजेपी में शामिल हो गए. चांडिल के भालूकोचा…

[bhaskarlive]

Champai Soren quits JMM with ‘great sadness’; to join BJP on Aug 30

Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former Chief Minister Champai Soren on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of the Shibu Soren-led party and also gave up all other positions he held in the JMM.

Champai Soren is expected to officially join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on August 30.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[warningsine]

This year’s general election in India arguably brought up more questions about the fairness of the electoral process than any other in the country’s history.

For example, in December, a bill was passed in India’s parliament that allowed election commissioners to be appointed by a panel dominated by the executive branch, which many feared would endanger free and fair elections.

And during the campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a string of speeches that were widely seen as Islamophobic, in which he accused the opposition Congress Party of favouring Muslims. The Election Commission failed to adequately enforce the Model Code of Conduct when it came to these comments.

Opposition chief ministers, Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Hemant Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), meanwhile, were arrested on charges of corruption. Both parties claimed the charges were politically motivated.

One of the lessons from the election, however, is that even when there are questions about how free and fair a vote is, opposition parties can dent the dominance of ruling parties.

In India’s election, the opposition presented a united front and stuck to a consistent message reflecting specific issues of voter discontent.

Why caste politics were so important

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party did not perform as well as expected in the election, suffering major losses in its heartland northern Indian states. Modi began the six-week election campaign saying his party would win more than 400 seats. Ultimately, it was reduced to 240 seats, while the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) won 232 seats.

INDIA had a shaky start to the election. A founding member, the Janata Dal, joined Modi’s coalition earlier this year. INDIA also failed to reach a seat-sharing agreement with another member, Trinamool Congress (TMC), although that party remained part of the alliance.

Yet, as the campaign wore on, the BJP’s attacks on the opposition led to a more united front, focusing particularly on the issue of caste.

Indian society and politics are stratified by its caste system. It has roots in ancient religious texts, which grant symbolic and material rights and privileges to people based on their membership to a particular caste.

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s speeches highlighted a commitment to protecting the Constitution and addressing the issue of caste-based injustice in India. He pledged to undertake a caste census to reveal the extent of disadvantage and concentration of wealth in society.

He also pointed out the government’s centralisation of power, as well as the upper caste-dominated media’s adulation of Modi and its inattention to issues of unemployment and inflation.

Lalu Prasad Yadav, a leader of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party, which is also part of the INDIA coalition, warned the BJP intended to change the Constitution to end caste-based affirmative action. Though this was denied by Modi, the allegation seemed to strike a chord with voters.

Caste presented a dilemma for Modi’s Hindu nationalist politics, which valorises upper-caste Hindu practices and behaviours, while relying on support from the lower caste majority to win elections.

The BJP had sought to ameliorate this tension by promoting welfare schemes and accusing the secular opposition of colluding with Muslims to deprive the Hindu lower-caste poor.

In the lead-up to the election, Modi also claimed to have replaced traditional forms of caste stratification with four new castes of welfare “beneficiaries” – women, farmers, the youth and the poor.

In truth, however, the government’s welfare schemes consisted of paltry cash transfers, small loans, food rations and subsidies for private goods like toilets, which sought to compensate for the stagnation of incomes and lack of jobs. Spending on health and education by Modi’s government, which could have transformative effects on society, has languished.

The BJP’s infrastructure-driven economic program has benefited large companies, leading to accusations of crony capitalism. It has also failed to attract substantial foreign investment or grow the manufacturing sector to create more jobs.

Over the past decade – but particularly following the COVID pandemic – India has also become one of the world’s most unequal countries. Women, Dalits, Adivasis and Muslims have fared the worst.

Dalit politicians also grew in prominence

Perhaps the biggest surprise for the BJP were its heavy losses in its heartland state, Uttar Pradesh.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) had previously dominated Uttar Pradesh politics by promoting the interests of particular lower caste “other backward classes”. This tactic, however, generated resentment among other lower castes, which was exploited by the BJP to win power in 2017.

In this election, the SP appears to have fashioned a new, broader caste coalition.

This election also saw new shifts in Dalit politics, the lowest rung of the caste structure in India. In Uttar Pradesh, new Dalit political parties became increasingly prominent, such as the Azad Party led by Chandra Sekhar Azad.

Further south, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) consolidated its status as the largest Dalit party in Tamil Nadu, winning all the seats it contested.

The future of Indian democracy

Indian democracy is not out of the woods yet. Activists, students, political leaders and journalists remain imprisoned.

The Hindu nationalist movement also has a history of inciting communal violence when things do not go its way in the electoral arena.

The Modi government started to extend its media censorship during the election, as well.

There is little to suggest that Modi will temper what many see as authoritarian tendencies, but there is now more resistance, scepticism and political alternatives that will hopefully aid India’s democratic recovery.

[gazetteweekly]

Opposition united in 'black protest', meet at Congress Chief Kharge's house to take on BJP

Leaders of 18 Opposition parties including the TMC, AAP and BRS camped at the Congress president's residence last night and vowed to fight against BJP together.

NEW DELHI: As a united Opposition intensified its protests on Monday, Parliament saw another day of chaos and adjournment on the third week of the Budget session.

Wearing black clothes, at least 18 Opposition parties including TMC marched from Parliament to Vijay Chowk to mark their protest against the disqualification of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from Parliament and reiterate their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the allegations surrounding the Adani Group.

In the evening, 18 parties attended a dinner meeting called by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss future strategies to counter the government on the Adani issue and to sustain the momentum of Opposition Unity. Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi were also present at the meeting.

Among the parties that were represented at the meeting were the DMK, NCP, JD(U), BRS, CPI(M), CPI, AAP, MDMK, KC, TMC, RSP, RJD, NC, IUML, VCK, SP, and JMM.

Curiously, while the TMC joined the Opposition meetings and protests, Shiv Sena (UBT) skipped protests and the dinner meeting. Shiv Sena (UBT) faction leaders said that they are skipping the meeting as they are miffed over Rahul Gandhi's remark on Savarkar.

On Saturday, the Congress leader said that "My name is not Savarkar to apologise," Taking exception to Rahul’s comment, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had warned Gandhi that the party "will not tolerate" insult of Savarkar.

While the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha membership has realigned the Opposition, the biggest takeaway is the TMC, which has stayed away from joint Opposition meetings and protests in Parliament till now.

TMC Chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has come out in support of Rahul Gandhi and said that in PM Modi’s new India, opposition parties have become the prime target. “We have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy,” she said responding to Gandhi’s conviction and subsequent disqualification.

Though the ‘black’ protest was called by the Congress party, several Opposition leaders including AAP, DMK, CPI (M) were seen wearing black in solidarity. Holding a huge ‘Satyamev Jayate’ banner and placards with ‘Save democracy’, the opposition members staged a sit-in protest along with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, who were in black attire. Addressing the media at a joint press conference,

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We want a JPC on the Adani issue. 18 parties have come together today. Why is the government scared of a probe? It means something is amiss.” The Congress chief said that Opposition MPs were dressed in black as ‘democracy is in danger’ and BJP had been destroying institutions, toppling elected governments, besides intimidating the opposition using central agencies.

Following the dinner meeting, Kharge wrote on Twitter, "To save one man, Modiji is trampling the interests of 140 Cr people. To protect PM's 'Param Mitr', BJP stalls Parliament that discusses people's issues. If NO wrong is committed, why is govt shying away from opposition's demand for a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee?"

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the leaders resolved to fight against the BJP unitedly.

"Tonight floor leaders of 18 Opposition parties met at the residence of @kharge ji and with one voice decided to continue with their campaign against the Modi regime that is destroying democracy and that has subverted all institutions," Ramesh wrote on Twitter.

"They expressed their collective resolve to combat Modi's politics of fear and intimidation. This resolve will be reflected in joint actions outside Parliament beginning now," he added.

[bbcbreakingnews]

Buta Singh – the quintessential politician who sailed through turbulent years of Indian politics

NEW DELHI: With his ear to the ground and eye on the national politics, Congress veteran Buta Singh was the quintessential politician who sailed through the most turbulent years of Indian politics with deftness and diligence, and went on to become the virtual No. 2 in the Rajiv Gandhi government in the late 1980s. Singh, a prominent Dalit face of the grand old party and a staunch loyalist of Rajiv Gandhi, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Saturday morning after being comatose for several weeks. He was 86. In a chequered political career spanning over five decades, Singh often found himself at the centre of major controversies, but he always found a way to bounce back. Born into a humble ‘mazhbi’ Sikh family in Mustafapur in Punjab’s Jalandhar district on March 21, 1934, Singh was a member of Lok Sabha for eight terms, held several positions in varied ideological dispensations at the Centre and became the Governor of Bihar in 2004. He rose to national prominence in the 1980s as he was the lone Sikh face in the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet in the period after the Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. He succeeded P V Narasimha Rao as the home minister in 1986 and served in that position till 1989 when the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress lost the election. Before Rajiv Gandhi, Singh was close to his mother and predecessor Indira Gandhi and held several positions in her government. He also played a role in selecting the Congress’s new poll symbol – “hand” – after the party split in 1978. But, Singh had to pay a price for his close association with the Gandhis and his positions in the successive Congress governments – he was excommunicated from the socio-religious order of the Sikhs in April 1985 for his role in the Operation Blue Star that caused damage to the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhism. Nearly 10 years after the events at the Golden Temple, he sought atonement and returned to the Sikh fold. In March 1994, he was granted pardon. Pictures of him undergoing the punishment of dusting shoes, washing dishes and sweeping floors at the Golden Temple and other gurudwaras, with a plaque around his neck declaring him a sinner, went viral at the time. He also had his fair share of controversies — over consecration of bricks for a Ram temple in Ayodhya in 1989 and over dismissal of many state governments during his tenure as home minister. As the Union home minister in 1989, Singh had a role in the consecration of bricks inscribed with Lord Ram that were brought to Ayodhya for the temple construction even when the land was disputed. Years later, he had to quit as Bihar governor after the Supreme Court was critical of his role in recommending the dissolution of the state assembly in 2005. He resigned in 2006. In his initial political life, Singh was associated with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He joined the Congress in the early 1960s. He was first elected to the Lower House of Parliament in 1962 from Punjab. Later, he represented Rajasthan’s Jalore constituency in Lok Sabha. He switched over to the BJP briefly and became the Minister for Communications in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet in March 1998. He was indicted in the JMM bribery case in 1998 and had to resign as the Union communications minister thereafter. He, however, switched back to the Congress and was made the Governor of Bihar. A prominent Dalit leader, he started as the convenor of the All India Congress Committee’s (AICC) Harijan cell in 1973-74, after which he became the AICC general secretary in 1978. Singh became the Union deputy minister, railways in 1974 and the Union deputy minister, commerce in 1976. In 1980, he became the Union minister of state, shipping and transport and was also given the portfolio of sports (independent charge) in 1982. In 1983, then prime minister Indira Gandhi elevated him as the cabinet minister for parliamentary affairs, sports and works and housing. In 1984, he was made the Union minister for agriculture and rural development and in 1986, the Union home minister in the Rajiv Gandhi cabinet. Under P V Narasimha Rao, Singh was the Union minister of civil supplies, consumer affairs and public distribution from 1995 to 1996. He was appointed the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) by Manmohan Singh in 2007. He held that post till 2010. Singh was instrumental in building and re-building many gurdwaras in the country and abroad, especially the Akal Takht, after Operation Blue Star in 1984. He was involved in the reconstruction of many gurudwaras in Delhi after the anti-Sikh riots of November, 1984. He was also the chairperson of the Asian Games organising committee when the competition was held in India in 1982.

source https://bbcbreakingnews.com/2021/01/02/buta-singh-the-quintessential-politician-who-sailed-through-turbulent-years-of-indian-politics/

[bigyack-com]

New chapter for young Jharkhand as JMM-led alliance’s rule begins - assembly elections

Since Monday morning, scores of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supporters had gathered outside his Ranchi house, distributing sweets to celebrate the Jharkhand election results. Hemant Soren didn’t want to jump the gun and waited for the lead to stabilise. As it became clear that the Opposition alliance comprising the JMM, Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was headed for a comfortable victory, 44-year-old Soren drove down to his father Shibu Soren’s residence less than a kilometre away to seek his blessings.The photographs were quickly put out. In one, he was touching 75-year-old Shibu Soren’s feet. In a video, the father and son could be seen taking a walk around in the garden. In a third, Shibu Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren joined them.It was a day of celebrations for JMM leaders and workers, who thronged the streets of Ranchi and other cities with party flags and distributed sweets. Celebrations broke out in the Congress and the RJD camps as well.Later at a press conference, JMM working president Soren, the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance, said, “We will sit with the alliance partners and decide the course of action.” He thanked his father, RJD leader Lalu Prasad, and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others.The Opposition alliance described the results as the beginning of a “new chapter”, and the Congress linked the mandate to the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. It said the people have demolished “arrogance” of the BJP. The BJP, however, attributed its defeat to local issues and “internal strife” in the state.Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Soren for the victory and extended his best wishes to the alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah said his party respects the mandate of voters and also expressed his gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for giving the BJP a chance to govern the state for five years.BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao attributed the party’s loss in Jharkhand to “local issues”, and said “internal strife” also appeared to have a significant fallout. “Inability of local leadership to convince the electorate for repeat of the mandate and internal strife within the party also appeared to have a significant fall out. A detailed analysis will be done,” he said.Outgoing Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das took responsibility for the election outcome, saying it was his defeat, and not of the BJP. Later in the day, Das submitted his resignation to the governor. “I met Governor Droupadi Murmu and submitted my resignation. The governor asked me to be caretaker CM till the new government is formed,” Das told reporters after coming out of the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.The BJP and the All Jharkhand Students Union, or the AJSU party, which had been in alliance since the creation of the state 19 years ago, failed to reach a seat-sharing formula and fought separately.Das, whose government is first one to complete five years in the state, said, “I have worked for the development of Jharkhand, providing electricity, roads and other schemes, covering every section of the society. In future also, I will serve as a BJP worker as party has always been working for the building of nation.”Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated his party, coalition partners and workers on the decisive victory of the alliance in Jharkhand, while party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the people want to hear from the government on employment, bread, water, land, farming and trade.“Today the public’s answer has come. Congratulations to all the members of the grand alliance. Congratulations to Hemant Soren. Congratulations and love to the Congress workers,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.Significantly, Das also said the BJP’s failure to cling on to the alliance with the AJSU party and the opposition parties’ ability to keep their coalition intact are the reasons for the loss in the assembly election. “Our alliance could not happen while the opposition coalition remained intact. The party will review all the points (that led to the defeat) and try to plug the loopholes,” he told reporters after submitting his resignation letter to the governor.With agency inputs Read the full article

[townpostin]

Champai Soren Draws Massive Crowds in Potka, Hails 'Wave of Change' in Jharkhand

Former CM tours Kolhan region, welcomed by supporters in Potka constituency Jharkhand’s ex-CM Champai Soren joins BJP after JMM rebellion, citing ‘wave of change’ during Kolhan tour. JAMSHEDPUR – Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren joins BJP, tours Kolhan region amid warm reception from supporters. Champai Soren, a senior leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and former Chief Minister of…

[sharpbharat]

Chandil jmm leader to join bjp : विधानसभा चुनाव से पूर्व ईचागढ़ क्षेत्र में झामुमो को करारा झटका, कद्दावर नेता रूपेश वर्मा ने पार्टी से किया किनारा, 4 को थामेंगे भाजपा का दामन

चांडिल : आगामी विधानसभा चुनाव से ठीक पहले झामुमो को ईचागढ़ विधानसभा क्षेत्र में तगड़ा झटका लगा है. क्षेत्र के कद्दावर झामुमो नेता रूपेश वर्मा उर्फ पप्पू वर्मा ने पार्टी से किनारा करते हुए अलग राह पकड़ ली है. पप्पू चार अक्टूबर को बीजेपी में शामिल होने जा रहे हैं. उनके समर्थक इसकी तैयारी में जोर-शोर से जुट गए हैं. वैसे पप्पू के पार्टी छोड़ने पर स्थानीय विधायक सविता महतो ने कहा कि किसी के जाने से…

[bhaskarlive]

Champai Soren meets Amit Shah, to join BJP on Aug 30, says Assam CM Sarma

JMM leader and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, who had publicly shared his anguish at his treatment by the party and his unceremonious removal from the top post, will join the BJP on August 30, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced.

“Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and a distinguished Adivasi leader of our country, @ChampaiSoren Ji met Hon’ble Union Home Minister @AmitShah Ji a short while ago. He will officially join the @BJP4India on 30th August in Ranchi,” he said in a post on X late on Monday, sharing a photo of the veteran Jharkhand leader meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with him.

Source: bhaskarlive.in

[wionews]

17 opposition leaders to attend Sonia dinner tomorrow amid talk of broad front against BJP in 2019

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will host a dinner tomorrow which is likely to be attended by leaders of 17 opposition parties, amid talk of forging a broader front against the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2019 general elections.

According to Congress sources, leaders of Andhra Pradesh's ruling Telugu Desam Party, which recently pulled out its ministers in the Modi government but continues to be a constituent of the NDA, BJD, and the TRS have not been invited. The BJD and TRS rule Odisha and Telangana respectively.

They said former chief ministers of Jharkhand Babulal Marandi of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and Hemant Soren (JMM) will attend the dinner, along with former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, who recently quit the NDA and joined forces with Lalu Prasad's RJD, which is an ally of the Congress.

Lalu's son and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav is also likely to attend, but there was no immediate confirmation.

Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, DMK's Kanimozhi and Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party are likely to be present, and so would be leaders of left parties - CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and CPI's D Raja. Leaders of other parties like JD-S and Kerala Congress, Indian Union Muslim League, Revolutionary Socialist Party and RLD are also likely to attend.

Sources said while BSP has been invited, its leader Mayawati may not send a representative as her party has aligned with JD-S for the Karnataka polls likely in April/March this year.

The dinner being hosted at the 10, Janpath residence of Sonia Gandhi, is expected to set the tone for opposition unity in the run up to the next general elections.

Sonia Gandhi has called for opposition unity and said parties should set aside their minor differences to get together in the larger interest of keeping the BJP out of power in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

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[townpostin]

Expelled JMM MLA Lobin Hembrom Joins BJP in Ranchi

Former Borio legislator switches parties in presence of Assam CM and BJP leaders Lobin Hembrom, expelled JMM MLA, joined BJP, citing dissatisfaction with JMM’s current state of affairs. RANCHI – Former JMM legislator Lobin Hembrom joined BJP in Ranchi, expressing discontent with JMM’s current leadership. Hembrom, the ex-Borio MLA, made the transition to BJP at the state party office in Ranchi on…

[townpostin]

JMM's Champai Soren Quashes BJP Defection Rumors

Senior leader and BJP official deny speculation ahead of Jharkhand elections Reports of JMM leader Champai Soren potentially joining BJP have been firmly denied by both parties. JAMSHEDPUR – JMM’s Champai Soren and BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma both have refuted claims of Champai Soren mulling switching parties before Jharkhand polls. Recent speculation about Champai Soren’s possible defection to…

[sharpbharat]

Adityapur jmm leader joins bjp : लोकसभा चुनाव से ठीक पहले झामुमो को बड़ा झटका, पार्टी नेता परीक्षित महतो ने 400 समर्थकों के साथ थामा भाजपा का हाथ

गम्हरिया : लोकसभा चुनाव से ठीक पहले झामुमो को बड़ा झटका लगा है. पार्टी के वरिष्ठ नेता सह खरसावां विधायक के उद्योग प्रकोष्ठ के प्रतिनिधि परीक्षित महतो ने आज अपने 400 समर्थकों के साथ भाजपा का दामन थाम लिया. खरसावां विधानसभा क्षेत्र के गम्हरिया प्रखंड अंतर्गत नेंगटासाई आम बगान में आयोजित सभा में उन्होंने खूंटी के लोकसभा प्रत्याशी सह केंद्रीय मंत्री अर्जुन मुंडा एव�� जमशेदपुर के भाजपा प्रत्याशी…

[bigyack-com]

New chapter for young Jharkhand as JMM-led alliance’s rule begins - assembly elections

Since Monday morning, scores of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) supporters had gathered outside his Ranchi house, distributing sweets to celebrate the Jharkhand election results. Hemant Soren didn’t want to jump the gun and waited for the lead to stabilise. As it became clear that the Opposition alliance comprising the JMM, Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) was headed for a comfortable victory, 44-year-old Soren drove down to his father Shibu Soren’s residence less than a kilometre away to seek his blessings.The photographs were quickly put out. In one, he was touching 75-year-old Shibu Soren’s feet. In a video, the father and son could be seen taking a walk around in the garden. In a third, Shibu Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren joined them.It was a day of celebrations for JMM leaders and workers, who thronged the streets of Ranchi and other cities with party flags and distributed sweets. Celebrations broke out in the Congress and the RJD camps as well.Later at a press conference, JMM working president Soren, the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance, said, “We will sit with the alliance partners and decide the course of action.” He thanked his father, RJD leader Lalu Prasad, and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others.The Opposition alliance described the results as the beginning of a “new chapter”, and the Congress linked the mandate to the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. It said the people have demolished “arrogance” of the BJP. The BJP, however, attributed its defeat to local issues and “internal strife” in the state.Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Soren for the victory and extended his best wishes to the alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah said his party respects the mandate of voters and also expressed his gratitude to the people of Jharkhand for giving the BJP a chance to govern the state for five years.BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao attributed the party’s loss in Jharkhand to “local issues”, and said “internal strife” also appeared to have a significant fallout. “Inability of local leadership to convince the electorate for repeat of the mandate and internal strife within the party also appeared to have a significant fall out. A detailed analysis will be done,” he said.Outgoing Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das took responsibility for the election outcome, saying it was his defeat, and not of the BJP. Later in the day, Das submitted his resignation to the governor. “I met Governor Droupadi Murmu and submitted my resignation. The governor asked me to be caretaker CM till the new government is formed,” Das told reporters after coming out of the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.The BJP and the All Jharkhand Students Union, or the AJSU party, which had been in alliance since the creation of the state 19 years ago, failed to reach a seat-sharing formula and fought separately.Das, whose government is first one to complete five years in the state, said, “I have worked for the development of Jharkhand, providing electricity, roads and other schemes, covering every section of the society. In future also, I will serve as a BJP worker as party has always been working for the building of nation.”Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated his party, coalition partners and workers on the decisive victory of the alliance in Jharkhand, while party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the people want to hear from the government on employment, bread, water, land, farming and trade.“Today the public’s answer has come. Congratulations to all the members of the grand alliance. Congratulations to Hemant Soren. Congratulations and love to the Congress workers,” she said in a tweet in Hindi.Significantly, Das also said the BJP’s failure to cling on to the alliance with the AJSU party and the opposition parties’ ability to keep their coalition intact are the reasons for the loss in the assembly election. “Our alliance could not happen while the opposition coalition remained intact. The party will review all the points (that led to the defeat) and try to plug the loopholes,” he told reporters after submitting his resignation letter to the governor.With agency inputs Read the full article

[townpostin]

Congress leader Manoj Sardar and his supporters join BJP

Congress leader Manoj Sardar and his supporters join BJP

Jamshedpur: The former Rural District President of Congress Manoj Sardar joined BJP on Sunday along with a large number of his supporters.

Meanwhile, dozens of JMM workers from Potka block also reached the residence of former Chief Minster Raghubar Das in Agrico and joined BJP as members.

BJP has now started making inroads in other parties even in the rural areas.

Manoj Sardar joins BJP