Sonahatu (Jharkhand) [India], November 6 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha candidate for the Assembly polls, Kalpana Soren on Wednesday attacked Bharatiya Janata Party and alleged that the BJP closed thousands of government schools, during their tenure in 2014.
Addressing a public gathering in Jharkhand's Sonahatu, Kalpana said, "They (BJP) were in power for 20 years, what did they do? They talked about double-engine government, but instead of taking the people of Jharkhand forward with double power, they pushed them back with double power. They closed government schools, thousands of government schools were closed during their government in 2014."
The JMM leader further asserted that Chief Minister Hemant Soren opened CM School of Excellence. "Today nine lakh girls are being given financial help," she said.
Kalpana Soren is currently representing the Gandey constituency. She had won the constituency in a bypoll held in May this year by beating BJP's Dilip Kumar Verma by a margin of 27,149 votes. The seat became vacant following the resignation of JMM MLA Sarfaraz Ahmad.
Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc on Tuesday released its joint manifesto promising seven guarantees including LPG cylinder for Rs 450 and 10 lakh jobs.
INDIA bloc members, Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morch (JMM), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and CPI-M, released the manifesto in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and others.
The seven guarantees included an LPG cylinder for Rs 450 per family and a 7 kg ration for every person; Bringing policy based on the Khatiyan of 1932 along with the implementation of the Sarna Religion Code and an honorarium of Rs 2,500 to women; 28 per cent reservation for ST, 12 pc for SC and 27 pc for OBC;10 lakh jobs and health insurance up to Rs 15 lakh.
The alliance also promised that degree colleges will be built in all blocks and engineering, medical colleges and universities in the district headquarters; the MSP of paddy will be increased to Rs 3,200 and other agricultural products will be raised by 50 per cent.
The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.