Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren expressed confidence in the voters' decision in Assam's ongoing state elections, rejecting the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) assertions of a decisive win for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Speaking to reporters on April 7, Soren said the outcome would be determined by the ground reality. “Look, I have fought the election, so definitely people are on the ground. And all these things, you will get to know better from the ground only, as to which side the result will be, how it will be. We have done as much work as we had to,” he stated.
He dismissed the BJP’s predictions of seat gains for the NDA, accusing the party of relying on manipulative tactics for projections. “Well, steal votes, commit robbery in votes, manipulate votes, manipulate voters… they have many parameters for making claims. Our parameter is the court of the people,” Soren said.
Regarding allegations about the wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma holding multiple passports, Soren described it as a matter for investigation. “Now, does a criminal ever admit his crime? This is a matter of investigation… those who investigate will tell,” he added.
On April 2, Soren criticised Assam’s “double-engine government,” questioning the conditions of labourers in tea gardens. Addressing people in Golaghat, he challenged the government’s record on basic amenities, asking, “We went to village after village here. The Prime Minister talked about providing pucca houses to everyone, but how many people actually received pucca houses?… What was the condition of the labourers in the tea gardens? What was the state of electricity, water, roads, and hospitals?… And here, there was a double-engine government…”
Polling for all 126 Assembly constituencies in Assam is scheduled for a single phase on April 9, with vote counting set for May 4. The election will see the BJP-led NDA government face opposition from the Congress party for control of the 126-seat assembly.