Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das is making the best use of his time before the announcement of assembly elections in the state. The elections are due in the state in November-December.
Currently undertaking the second leg of his Janashirwad Yatra, the first-time BJP chief minister is busy reminding the electorate about the development works carried out by his government.
The BJP has set a target of 65 seats in 81-seat state assembly.
Addressing a rally, Das, on Saturday, accused the opposition parties—the JMM and the Congress —of being anti-national as they were against abrogation of Article 370. “When the entire country is celebrating the abrogation of the article 370, the Congress and JMM are opposing it. Such anti-national forces have to be taught a lesson. They have to be shown the door,” Das said.
The BJP has made nationalism, especially the abrogation of Article 370, a key issue to woo the voters. BJP working president J.P. Nadda, who toured the state on Friday, also reminded the voters about the historical step of integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India. Nadda also said the the ruling party will bring NRC and weed out the outsiders from the country. “This is a country, and not a dharamshala. We will not allow Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists, who have sought shelter, to go away, but will not allow any illegal entrant to stay. Only country's citizens have a first claim to the national resources,” Nadda said.
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The party has also been identifying local tribal heroes and hailing their contributions to the society and local traditions. This will help the party to strengthen their base among the tribals where JMM and Congress had a stronghold.
The BJP campaigners are latching on to the phrase “double-engine” that would push development in the state, referring to the BJP-ruled Central and state governments.
The chaos at the opposition camp is also helping the BJP. Many of the leaders from parties like the RJD, Congress and the JMM have switched sides. The opposition parties are hoping to form a broad alliance between the Congress, JMM, RJD and the left parties to avoid split in the anti-government votes. The BJP ally JD(U) has already declared that it will contest the elections on its own.
JMM chief Hemant Soren, the current leader of opposition and former chief minister, meanwhile, blames the state government of corruption and failure to deliver. Soren also undertook a yatra to connect with the state voters.
A lot will depend on how the opposition parties form their alliance and take on the state government.
