“BJP will attempt to spoil image of popular leaders…”: JMM MP Mahua Maji

New Delhi [India], August 2 (ANI): Ahead of upcoming state assembly polls, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Maji said on Friday that an attempt was made to tarnish the image of Chief Minister Hemant Soren by calling him corrupt after the Enforcement Directorate kept him in jail for five months without any proof.

She also said that his arrest did not cause any change in public opinion and that the party, to the contrary, performed better in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

“In our state, the enforcement directorate kept Hemant Soren in jail for five months without any proof, as he is a popular tribal chief minister. During the Lok Sabha elections, he was kept at a distance from the public. By calling him corrupt, an attempt was made to tarnish his image, ” Maji told ANI.

“The public is aware of everything. His arrest had no effect on public opinion of him. To the contrary, we performed better in the elections,” the JMM MP said.

She also said that Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to take place in several states, including Jharkhand.

“This time, the BJP will make an attempt to spoil the image of popular leaders and put them in trouble. Probably, with the aim of having maximum electoral benefits. But there is nothing, sort of.”

Soren was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. The investigation concerns the purported generation of substantial proceeds through the forgery of official records, involving fake sellers and buyers to acquire large parcels of land worth crores.

Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after nearly five months following bail from Jharkhand High Court.

Earlier in a video message Hemant Soren had accused the BJP of leveling false allegations against him.

“In the 2019 Jharkhand Assembly Elections, the people of Jharkhand gave our party mandate but the conspirators were unable to digest how an Adivasi youngster can sit in such a high position. At last, on January 31, they (the BJP) made false allegations against me and removed me from the post of Chief Minister. Because of the people’s blessings, I’m out here sitting in front of you. We will always be the voice of the people. Today, the public opinion of the people of Jharkhand will rise again. By taking charge, the work will be carried out again,” he said.

Hemant Soren’s return as CM will bolster the JMM, which won three seats in the tribal-dominated state of Jharkhand in the Lok Sabha elections.