JMM wave in Jharkhand, claims party supremo Shibu Soren

JMM supremo Shibu Soren on Tuesday said there is a "wave" sweeping in favour of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the run up to the assembly elections while Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the BJP is projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it "lacked leadership in the state".

"There is a JMM wave sweeping in Jharkhand," the former chief minister said in Ranchi after welcoming back former MP Krishna Mardi to his party.

Later addressing a party meeting in Dumka, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that the BJP was projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its leader as they did not have any leader in the state.

"The BJP has no leader in Jharkhand, so they are projecting leaders from outside. They are projecting Narendra Modi. Will he become the chief minister after elections?" Chief Minister Hemant Soren said, taking a swipe at the BJP's top leadership.

"Jharkhand can't become Haryana or Maharashtra because businessmen are there, while businessmen exploited tribals in Jharkhand," the chief minister said and asked the people to remain alert against these people whose eyes are set on Jharkhand's natural resources.

Taking a swipe at the BJP leaders' criticism of JMM before the Lok Sabha elections, the chief minister said, "People (read BJP) used to say UPA government in Delhi was running by mother and son duo (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) and father and son (Shibu Soren and Hemant) are ruling in Jharkhand. And now they have appointed former finance minister's son as a minister (Yashwant Sinha and Jayant Sinha)."

"The JMM is the only party contesting in all the seats while others are in alliance," he said, indicating to the BJP allying with the Ajsu party.