Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren Accuses BJP of Spending Rs 500 Crore on Malicious Campaigns
Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has once again targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the opposition party spent over Rs 500 crore on “malicious campaigns” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of the state elections. Soren accused the BJP of using hate-driven tactics to influence voters and incite division in the state, an approach he criticized for being contrary to the values of Jharkhand’s culture.
Soren’s fresh accusations came a day after he accused the BJP of orchestrating a “whisper campaign” to sway voters. He claimed that the BJP, in an attempt to fulfill its political ambitions, brought in people from neighboring states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Bengal to spread fear and misinformation in the constituencies where elections are being held. According to Soren, this covert campaign has involved spending over Rs 1 crore in each constituency.
“Leaders like those in the BJP fulfill their political goals by inciting hatred. But Jharkhand’s culture doesn’t allow this,” Soren posted on X (formerly Twitter). He further alleged that the BJP has used over Rs 500 crore for running shadow campaigns and spreading hatred against him.
Soren dismissed the claims of the BJP’s “whisper campaign,” calling them false and unfounded. He encouraged voters to speak openly and fearlessly, urging them not to succumb to the whispers of fear. “We haven’t collected donations through electoral bonds, fake medicines, or vaccines. Therefore, I urge the people of Jharkhand to campaign for me boldly and openly,” Soren added.
The Chief Minister had previously accused the BJP of running a smear campaign through social media, claiming that the BJP had spent millions of rupees to spread negativity about him and the ruling JMM-led coalition. He also referred to the creation of “95,000 WhatsApp groups” aimed at tarnishing the coalition’s reputation.
In response, the BJP dismissed Soren’s allegations, calling them a reflection of his desperation and fear of defeat in the upcoming elections. The BJP also rejected the accusations as baseless and part of Soren’s narrative to shift focus from his party’s own failures.
Amid the accusations, the Jharkhand Police registered FIRs against individuals allegedly responsible for operating social media accounts that were running campaigns intended to malign the state government and Soren’s image.
Despite the ongoing controversy, Soren stood firm on his principles, emphasizing that while the BJP may use vast resources to attack him, he had not spent any money on personal promotion. He urged voters to trust in integrity over deceptive tactics, emphasizing that “principles” should guide their choices in the election.
