Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren Monday likened former CM Babulal Marandi’s party JVM-P to the Maoists who boycott polls.
“Under what morality does JVM-P (Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrtik) fight elections? It boycotted the polls (Rajya Sabha) after the Maoists issued a diktat for the same. Why do people vote for such a party,” asked Soren.
Soren has taken charge of the Lok Sabha campaign of his father and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren who is pitted against Marandi in Dumka.
Marandi’s entry has given an interesting twist to the Dumka poll scene. Shibu Soren has been elected six times on the JMM ticket from Dumka while it was Marandi who defeated Shibu Soren in the 1998 general elections and the latter’s wife Rupi in 1999.
Speaking to reporters in Dumka, Soren also likened Marandi to a fox.
Babulal Marandi who is trying to make his presence felt in the JMM bastion Sunday met cabinet minister Simon Marandi.
Simon Marandi is unhappy with the JMM for not giving a ticket to his son, Dinesh, from the Rajmahal seat. A few days ago, Simon Marandi predicted defeat of the party from both Dumka and Rajmahal.
Babulal Marandi meeting Simon is seen as a move to garner the latter’s support for the Dumka poll. Simon has said he would announce his poll stand after April 21.
Meanwhile, Simon calling on Babulal Marandi and his statement have not gone down well with the party.