Palamu (Jharkhand) [India], November 8 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticised Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over his challenge to engage directly in the state's upcoming elections, asserting that the public has already decided Soren will not win.
On Thursday, Soren challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to face him directly in the electoral contest rather than "attacking from behind like the cowardly British."
"What should we confront? He (Soren) himself was recently released from jail for his misdeeds. What more could be expected? The public has decided he won't win the election," CM Yadav told ANI on Friday.
In a post on X, Soren said, "Agar himmat hai toh samne se lado - kayar ki tarah lagatar peeche se vaar kyu? (If you have courage, fight upfront - why keep attacking from behind like the cowardly British?)"
Soren also shared a news headline, claiming substantial resources had been spent to tarnish his reputation.
"Sometimes it's the ED, sometimes the CBI, sometimes one agency or another. Now billions of rupees have been spent to spoil my image. The situation is bizarre," he wrote.
He further criticised the BJP's "double engine" government concept, pointing out that despite the party's power in the state for about five years, schools were shut down, ration cards cancelled, and the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) exam was not conducted.
"The BJP has been in power at the centre for 11 years and in the state for five years, yet it calls itself a double engine government. Why did only the 'elephant fly' during Raghubar's five-year government? Why were 13,000 schools closed in that period? Why were 11 lakh - yes, 11 lakh - ration cards cancelled?" he questioned.
Soren continued, "Why wasn't even one JPSC exam conducted in those five years? Why was the old age/widow pension neither increased nor distributed adequately? Why did hundreds die of hunger in the state? Why were youth advised to make bicycles and sell bananas?"
The CM also pledged that if his government is re-elected, they will continue to work for the welfare of every Jharkhand resident.
The 81-member Jharkhand Assembly will go to the polls in two phases on November 13 and 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.