Hemant Soren Alleges Obstruction in Assam Campaign, Takes Fight to Social Media
In a dramatic turn of events, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday addressed voters in the Rongonadi and Chabua assembly constituencies of poll-bound Assam through a telephone call after being unable to visit the area in person. Following this, he took to social media platform X to assert that he was deliberately prevented from campaigning there, attributing the obstruction to the Prime Minister's scheduled programme in the region.
Soren's Fiery Accusations and Pledges for Assam
In his post, Hemant Soren expressed strong condemnation, stating, "I was even prevented from meeting my brothers and sisters of the Chabua assembly constituency in Assam, but such a conspiracy by the opponents will never succeed." He further accused those in power of misusing democratic and constitutional institutions out of arrogance, aiming to suppress the truth from reaching the people. "Stopping campaigns, blocking paths — this is their policy. But our struggle will neither bend nor stop," he declared emphatically.
Elaborating on the broader significance of the electoral battle, Soren emphasized, "This fight is not just about elections, but about honour, rights, and survival." He highlighted critical issues facing Assam, particularly the denial of Scheduled Tribe (ST) rights to tribal communities, which he labeled as a "massive national injustice." Additionally, he pledged to secure a minimum wage of Rs 500 for tea plantation workers, vowing to ensure that tribal societies receive their due rights.
In a rallying cry, Soren appealed for unity among the people, asserting, "I appeal to all of you to unite, because your unity alone will be the biggest defeat for those who have exploited you for years." He concluded with the slogans "Jai Assam! Jai Johar!" underscoring his commitment to the state's welfare.
Similar Allegations from Kalpana Soren
This incident follows similar claims made on Sunday by Hemant Soren's wife, Kalpana Soren, who serves as the Gandey MLA and is a star campaigner for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in Assam. She alleged that she was forced to address voters in the Margherita constituency over the phone due to administrative hurdles.
Kalpana Soren explained, "There was a programme in Khumtai-Naharkatia but the administration didn't grant approval for helipad landing due to which I could not reach there in person." This adds to the growing narrative of campaign disruptions faced by JMM leaders in the region.
Electoral Context and JMM's Solo Fight
Voting in Assam is scheduled to take place on April 9, heightening the political stakes. The JMM, led by Hemant Soren and currently part of an alliance government in Jharkhand with Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), is contesting the elections in Assam independently. This solo effort comes after a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress collapsed, positioning the party to challenge established political forces in the northeastern state on its own merit.
The allegations of campaign obstruction and the strong rhetoric from Hemant Soren reflect the intense competition and strategic maneuvers as the election date approaches, with tribal rights and workers' wages emerging as central issues in the political discourse.
