BJP jealous of tribal CM's rising stature, says JMM

The political war of words between JMM and BJP over the CM Hemant Soren-led 11-member team's tour of two European nations to invite investments reached new heights on Friday after the leader of opposition in the assembly, Babulal Marandi, cast aspersions on the purpose of the tour, the inclusion of Hemant's wife Kalpana Soren while ignoring industries minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav.

Marandi's post on X faced rebuttals from JMM leaders and workers, who described the saffron party and its leader as "jealous" and "insecure" over the Hemant's rising stature.

The state team is going on a nine-day trip to Sweden and Spain on Saturday to hold talks with investors and encourage them to invest in Jharkhand.

Taking a jibe at the proposed visit, Marandi on Friday asked the govt to explain whether it was a personal trip of the CM or a state-sponsored visit. "Instead of industries minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav, the CM is taking along his wife Kalpana. The CM must explain in what capacity the MLA is part of the delegation and, if the trip is personal in nature, why a group of officials from the state govt are being sent on state funding," he asked.

Soon after Marandi's post, BJP leaders joined the bandwagon to criticise the CM's Europe visit. The spokesperson of the party, Pratul Shahdeo, addressed the media, raising questions about the intentions and expenses of the Europe tour. "The CM should post his family photographs from the tourist places that he intends to visit during the Europe tour," he mocked.

Taking a strong exception to the BJP's comments, JMM spokesperson and central general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said the chief minister's wife was part of the protocol and needed no extra qualification to be part of the delegation. Moreover, she, being an elected representative of the same ruling alliance, has the right, Bhattacharya said, stressing that BJP has hit a new low by raising such a frivolous issue.

"They can see the example of the Prime Minister, who has taken several foreign trips with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, but never with his predecessor, Sushma Swaraj. During such trips, the PM is vested with the powers to make decisions on behalf of his cabinet colleagues," he said.

Bhattacharya also reminded that former CM Raghubar Das, during his USA visit, was accompanied by his son. "He was an employee of Tata Steel then. In what capacity did he accompany the then CM?" he said.

JMM secretary Vinod Pandey described the hullaballoo around the CM's proposed visit as BJP's insecurity. "They cannot digest a tribal CM going to a foreign country to hold business talks. They want the tribals to remain backbenchers and follow them in everything," he said.

JMM's Kunal Shadangi also took to X and shared a video of Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife on a foreign trip, asking BJP to clarify its stand over the trip.