*Chief Minister & BJP Exchange Accusations
by Ashis Sinha
Ranchi: A political confrontation has arisen between Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the BJP regarding the Gogo Didi Yojana, a scheme launched by the BJP.
BJP state president Babulal Marandi strongly criticized a recent post by Chief Minister Soren on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where Soren instructed district deputy commissioners to file FIRs against those involved in the Gogo Didi Yojana. Soren contended that the initiative breaches the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the upcoming state elections.
In a defiant response, Marandi challenged the government to file an FIR against him and pledged to assist women in filling out application forms for the scheme, stating, “I will go myself and get the forms filled.”
Soren’s directive emphasized that the ongoing form-filling process undermines the election code. The Gogo Didi Yojana promises Rs 2,100 monthly to each woman beneficiary, positioned as a counter to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) Maiyaan Samman Yojana, which offers Rs 1,000 per month.
Marandi accused Soren of lacking “constitutional knowledge,” asserting that no election notification for the Jharkhand Assembly has been issued yet. He argued, “Only after the election notification is issued can a ban be imposed on a political party’s popular scheme.”
Marandi suggested that Soren is threatened by the growing popularity of the Gogo Didi Yojana and is attempting to hinder the initiative by harassing BJP workers with baseless legal actions. “But the BJP will not succumb to such tactics and will continue with the scheme,” he affirmed.
He highlighted the Gogo Didi Yojana’s importance for empowering women both socially and economically. Marandi warned Soren that BJP workers would not be intimidated by coercive measures and reiterated the commitment to assisting women across the state.
Assam Chief Minister and BJP Jharkhand election in-charge, Hemanta Biswa Sarma, supported the continuation of the Gogo Didi Yojana, arguing that Soren’s directive interferes with the BJP’s organizational activities. Sarma stated, “The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect only after the election notification. Until then, political parties are entitled to carry out their programs.”
Meanwhile, the JMM accused the BJP of consistently violating the election Model Code of Conduct, alleging that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has remained inactive. The JMM asserted that while form-filling is prohibited during elections, the BJP has continued its activities without restraint.