Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a campaign address for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, announced the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) commitment to implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state, while excluding tribal rights and culture from its ambit. Shah’s remarks were intended to counter opposition claims that UCC would undermine tribal rights. He emphasized BJP’s intent to protect tribal heritage and security, linking it to the legacy of tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
In the manifesto, Shah outlined measures such as a law to reclaim tribal lands allegedly taken by Bangladeshi infiltrators, establishing a commission for rehabilitating those displaced by mining activities, and various welfare schemes for women and youth. He criticized the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) coalition, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, calling it “the most corrupt” and alleging it has ignored the infiltration issue. Shah also claimed that Soren’s government was responsible for Maoist activity and failing to protect tribal lands and women.
Soren responded by asserting that neither the UCC nor the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be allowed in Jharkhand, as the state would uphold the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) and Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Acts to safeguard tribal interests. He dismissed BJP’s stance on security, saying that the two-phase election itself indicates that Maoist influence has significantly decreased under his administration. Soren criticized BJP’s approach as divisive, asserting that the party disregards the welfare of marginalized communities.
Shah also promised 500,000 jobs, including government positions, and programs for female empowerment and youth support. Additionally, Shah introduced “Operation Suraksha” to curb human trafficking and pledged to eliminate Maoist activities in the state by 2027. He also vowed to address alleged paper leak scandals affecting Jharkhand’s public exams, proposing a CBI investigation into the matter.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of relying on divisive tactics, arguing that the BJP manifesto lacks substantive policies to counter the popular welfare schemes implemented by the JMM-Congress alliance. According to Ramesh, BJP’s campaign rhetoric promotes religious polarization and does not address the state’s critical socioeconomic needs.
The elections in Jharkhand, scheduled in two phases on November 13 and November 20, are expected to see a direct contest between the JMM-led alliance and the BJP, with the BJP focusing on security and governance while the JMM emphasizes local autonomy and welfare.
