Page 5 - Hemant Soren

Jharkhand polls: 46.25% turnout recorded in 43 Assembly seats till 1 pm

A voter turnout of 29.31 per cent was recorded in the first four hours of polling on Wednesday in 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting is underway in the first phase, officials said. Polling began at 7 AM in these constituencies across 15 districts and will continue till 5 PM. A total of 683 candidates are trying their luck, including former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora. Long queues of voters were seen outside several booths in the morning. Khunti district registered the highest voter turnout at 34.12 per cent, followed by 33.86 per cent in Gumla, 33.44 per cent in Lohardaga and 33.18 per cent in Simdega. Serailkeala-Kharsawan recorded 32.65 per cent voting, followed by 31.10 per cent in Koderma, 30.59 per cent in Latehar and 30.38 per cent in Garhwa. Hazaribag registered 29.60 per cent polling, Chatra 29.52 per cent, West Singhbhum 29.42 per cent, Palamu 29.36 per cent and East Sinbhum 28.34 per cent. Of the remaining districts, Ranchi recorded 24.75 pe

Jharkhand election 2024: CM Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren cast votes in Ranchi

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren and JMM leader Kalpana Soren cast votes on Wednesday in Ranchi in the first phase of assembly election.

BJP's 'shadow campaigns' maligning image of Jharkhand: CM Hemant Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday accused the BJP of maligning his and the state's image through "shadow campaigns". He alleged that the saffron camp has been "spending crores of money on various social media platforms" and "created 95,000 Whatsapp groups" to campaign against the JMM-led coalition in the state. Hitting out at the saffron party, Soren claimed that "dictators may possess billions of rupees" but he believed it was "better to stick to principles rather than securing a win through unfair means". The allegations were made at a time when the polling was underway in 43 of the 81 assembly constituencies in the state in the first phase of elections. "I want to present an important report to you. Crores of rupees have been spent on Facebook advertisements by the BJP to damage my and the state's image through a 'shadow campaign'. "In the last 30 days, advertisements worth Rs 72 lakh have been given from various social media accounts like 'Jharkhand Chaupal',

Amit Shah, Kharge urge people of Jharkhand to cast votes in record numbers

Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to those voting in the first phase of the Jharkhand Assembly polls on Wednesday to exercise their franchise in record numbers to end corruption, infiltration and appeasement in the state. Voting for 43 Assembly seats in Jharkhand began this morning, with 683 candidates, including former chief minister Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora, trying their luck. "I appeal to all the voters going to vote in the first phase of polling in Jharkhand to cast record votes for the creation of a Jharkhand which is free from corruption, infiltration and appeasement, and is developed," Shah wrote on X in Hindi. The home minister said the people of Jharkhand should vote in large numbers to protect tribal identity, land, security of women, and employment for the youth. Shah also asked the people to vote before having breakfast, saying, "Roti-beti-mati ke liye pehle matdan, phir jalpan". The second phase of elections will be held on November 20 in the state. The

Jharkhand elections: PM Modi urges citizens to vote with full enthusiasm

Polling in Jharkhand that started at 7: 00 a.m. on Wednesday, is taking place with voters spread across 43 constituencies in 15 districts casting their ballots

Polling begins for 43 seats in 1st phase of Jharkhand Assembly elections

Voting for 43 assembly seats in Jharkhand commenced on Wednesday with a total of 683 candidates trying their luck, including former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora. Polling began around 7 AM in these constituencies across 15 districts and will continue till 5 PM. However, voting in 950 booths will end at 4 pm, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, an official said. While the JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, including Maiyan Samman Yojna, the BJP has been campaigning with its aggressive Hindutva agenda, infiltration and alleged corruption by the current dispensation. Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chief JP Nadda, held several rallies where they attacked the JMM-led coalition over alleged corruption and infiltration. INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, its president Mallikarjun .

Day before Jharkhand polls, ED raids 17 places over 'illegal infiltration'

Jharkhand elections: The alleged infiltration of Bangladeshis is one of the main poll planks of the BJP, which is hoping to make a comeback in the state after the 2019 Assembly poll defeat

Corruption, populism, infiltration: Key issues in Jharkhand Assembly polls

The 81 seats in Jharkhand Assembly will go for voting in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the results to be announced on November 23

Income tax raids common since 2014: CM Hemant Soren questions Centre

He went on to say that he had spoken several times about the state of constitutional agencies and how they were functioning in the country

JMM questions motive behind I-T raids on CM Soren's aide's residence

Income Tax department raided the residence of Sunil Srivastava, allegedly a close aide and personal secretary of Jharkhand CM Soren

BJP smashed backbones of poor states, squeezed J'khand like lemon: CM Soren

In a no-holds-barred attack on the BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday accused the saffron party of squeezing the state like a lemon for almost two decades and smashing the backbones of poor states. He also charged the BJP-led Centre with "destroying" the federal structure of the country by creating "double engine governments" through "poaching of MLAs, MPs, and toppling governments". "BJP squeezed Jharkhand like a lemon in the last 20 years, but this has to end now. We feed the cow and they milk it. This cannot be allowed anymore. They plundered Jharkhand's wealth. It is a paradox that Jharkhand, rich in mineral resources, is one of the poorest states," Jharkhand Chief Minister Soren claimed in an exclusive interview with PTI. "We are rich in resources coal, iron ore, bauxite, dolomite but our revenue collection is hampered by the central government's GST regime, which smashed the backbones of states like Jharkhand. It did nothing to address our financial needs

JMM, Cong, RJD allowing Bangladeshi infiltrators in Jharkhand: PM Modi in rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally in Jharkhand's Garhwa said JMM, Congress and RJD have been allowing Bangladeshi infiltrators in the state.

PM Modi terms JMM-led coalition 'Gushpaithiya Bandhan', 'Mafia ka Ghulam'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a scathing attack on the JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand, labeling it a "Ghuspaithiya Bandhan" (infiltrators' alliance) and "Mafia Ka Ghulam" (mafia's slave) for allegedly supporting Bangladeshi infiltrators. Scams by coalition leaders in Jharkhand have become an industry and corruption has devoured Jharkhand like termites, the Prime Minister said. "Appeasement politics has reached its pinnacle in Jharkhand where the JMM-led coalition is busy supporting Bangladeshi infiltrators. If this continues, tribal population in Jharkhand will shrink. This is a threat to tribal society and the country. This coalition has become a 'Gushpaithiya Bandhan' and a 'Mafia ka Gulam'", Modi said addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Garhwa. This is the first visit of the PM to Jharkhand post announcement of assembly elections here which are scheduled on November 13 and November 20 with counting of votes on November 23. JMM, Congress, RJD are using Bangladeshi

Uniform Civil Code won't be allowed in Jharkhand, says CM Hemant Soren

Shorty after Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday announced that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would be implemented in Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren hit back saying neither the UCC nor the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be allowed in the state. Soren emphasised that Jharkhand would adhere only to the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts to protect tribal culture, land, and rights. "Neither the UCC nor the NRC will be implemented here. Jharkhand will rely solely on the Chotanagpur Tenancy and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Acts. These people (the BJP) are spewing venom and do not care about tribals, natives, Dalits, or backward communities," Soren said at a rally in Garhwa. Soren's reaction followed Shah's remarks while releasing the BJP's manifesto, in which he said, "Our government will introduce the UCC in Jharkhand, but tribals will be kept out of its ambit. Hemant Soren and the JMM government are making false propaganda that the UCC wil

Amit Shah promises Rs 500 crore package to revive Koderma's stone industry

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the stone industry in Jharkhand's Koderma would be revived with a Rs 500 crore special package. Addressing an election rally at Barkatha in Hazaribag district, he hit out at Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for demanding Rs 1.36 lakh crore in lieu of coal mining dues, and said that the Narendra Modi government has already allocated Rs 3.80 lakh crore to the state in addition to funds for infrastructure development. "Koderma stone industry (mica) has been closed. We will revive it with a Rs 500 cr special package in the coming days," Shah said. Shah also launched a scathing attack on Soren saying, "I have never seen a liar like Hemant Soren, who is asking for Rs 1.36 lakh crore (in lieu of coal mining dues) whereas the Centre has already given Rs 3.80 lakh crore to Jharkhkand in addition to funds for infrastructure development from 2014-2024 in comparison to barely Rs 84,000 crore given by the UPA government from 2004-2014." He

Jharkhand CM Soren promises 7 kg ration monthly if JMM alliance wins

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday said people will get 7 kg of ration instead of the existing 5 kg per month under the public distribution system (PDS) if the JMM-led alliance is voted to power. He said the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance would also increase the pension amount. Soren alleged that 11 lakh ration cards and three lakh pensions were cancelled during the BJP regime in Jharkhand, which resulted in death of several tribal, dalits due to hunger. "I am proud that while deaths due to hunger were common in the BJP rule, in your Abua (our)government, every Jharkhandi is getting ration, pension and nutrition as per their rights," Soren posted on X. He said, "As soon as our government is formed again in Jharkhand, 7 kg of grain will be provided per person instead of 5 kg of grain in the public distribution system. The pension amount will also be increased." He further said that an additional 10 lakh people, who are left out of the subsidised grains, would be .

Corruption prevented Soren from using Rs 4.4 trn central funds: BJP

Attacking the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand, the BJP on Saturday alleged that the JMM-led coalition has failed to properly utilise central funds to the tune of over Rs 4.4 lakh crore over the last decade, with the amount being equivalent to funding 737 Chandrayaan missions or the cost of 4,510 Vande Bharat trains. The saffron party accused the state government of failing to effectively utilise over Rs 2.5 lakh crore allocated by the central government over the past five years due to mismanagement and corruption. "Despite receiving significant support from the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre which allocated over Rs 4.4 lakh crore since 2014 -- equivalent to funding nearly 737 Chandrayaan missions or the cost of 4,510 Vande Bharat trains -- the Soren government failed to utilise it properly," party leader Gourav Vallabh alleged. Addressing reporters here, Vallabh alleged that the Jharkhand government was neck-deep in corruption and neglected its citizens despite the

Ahead of PM's rally, CM Soren urges Centre to clear Rs 1.36 trn coal dues

Soren pointed out that the development of Jharkhand and essential socio-economic projects are getting hampered owing to the non-clearance of dues

Request PM, Shah to clear Jharkhand's Rs 1.36 trn coal dues: Hemant Soren

Ahead of the scheduled visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to poll-bound Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday requested the Centre with folded hands to clear Rs 1.36 lakh-crore coal dues to the state. Modi is scheduled to address two rallies in Jharkhand on November 4 while Shah will address three public meetings on November 3. "The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand. I once again request them with folded hands to clear the outstanding (coal dues) of Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhandis. This amount is crucial for Jharkhand," Soren posted on X. He also appealed to BJP MPs to facilitate clearance of the amount. "I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues," Soren posted on the microblogging site, sharing a copy of a letter to the prime minister. Soren emphasised that the dues with central PSUs, like Coal India, are "rightful" to the state and claimed that "non-clearanc

Has age become such a major factor?: JMM'S Soren over Jharkhand CM's age

Since the beginning, whenever the INDI alliance loses elections, they question the Election Commission of India and EVMs. Now, they have even attempted to deceive the ECI