Maharashtra, Jharkahand Assembly Election 2024 Live Updates: 'Soren govt followed 'divide and rule' policy,' says Nadda at Bokaro rally

The BJP on Saturday accused certain Muslim organisations of attempting to influence the electoral atmosphere in Maharashtra and Jharkhand by urging their community members to vote for the INDIA bloc along religious lines. The party called on the Election Commission and the Supreme Court to take action in response.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that Maulana Sajjad Nomani, a functionary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, had announced the organisation’s support for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on 269 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, and for other non-BJP parties on a few more seats.

Bhatia said that Nomani had appealed to Muslims to vote for the MVA, stating that the outcome of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections would not only shape the future of the state but also that of the entire country.

Earlier, Bhatia alleged that the Lohardaga unit of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind in Jharkhand had called for Muslims to vote en bloc for the Congress-JMM-RJD-CPI (ML) Liberation coalition in the state.

"This is what we call 'vote jihad,'" he declared, adding, "This is the height of appeasement politics" by the MVA in Maharashtra and the Congress-JMM in Jharkhand.

Bhatia went on to say that appealing for votes based on religion amounted to corrupt practices.

"It cannot be tolerated in a democracy like ours, where elections should be as pure as the Ganges. It is deeply worrying to see that, for the sake of power, Congress, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray are willing to appease, adopt infiltrators, and openly express love for illegal immigrants," he said.

He added that illegal immigration posed a threat to national security, but this issue seemed to be of little concern to the INDIA bloc parties.

Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe emphasised that the implementation of the Ladli Behan scheme has earned the trust of women voters in Maharashtra, and the Mahayuti alliance is confident of securing a majority in the upcoming elections.

Gorhe said, "In this year’s Maharashtra elections, there is a strong sense of awareness among women voters. The Ladli Behan scheme is a major talking point. Our women karyakartas (activists) are going door-to-door in 40 constituencies, spreading awareness about the work being done by the Mahayuti government. So far, workers have visited 30,000 households. Women were eagerly awaiting their arrival, and now they have placed their trust in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. We are confident that we will secure the majority."

She also accused the opposition of attempting to discredit the state government.

"Under the leadership of the Modi government, the state has seen the construction of projects like the Atal Setu, the sea link, and the Marathwada water grid. The Mahayuti alliance is working to realise the dreams of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. The Congress failed to implement the Ladli Behan scheme, but the Mahayuti government has not only launched it, but also ensured women have received their instalments. Women work long hours, both at home and outside, often for very little pay. To call this scheme a ‘bribe’, as the opposition has, is completely unjustified," Gorhe added.

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said on Saturday that his party had built Maharashtra "brick by brick" to make it India's leading state, but that its economy was now in decline under the current Mahayuti government.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the November 20 assembly elections, Chidambaram noted that Maharashtra had once been at the forefront of industry, services, and agriculture, and was regarded as the commercial capital of India.

"Maharashtra was leading the nation in industry and services, and was among the top-ranking states in agriculture. It was, and still is, the commercial capital of India," he said. "But I don't know for how long it will remain the commercial capital of India."

Chidambaram pointed out that, over the past eight to ten years, Congress had been out of power, with the exception of the two-and-a-half-year Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The state government is now led by the BJP and its allies, he added.

The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP) are partners in the MVA, while the ruling coalition comprises the BJP, NCP, and Shiv Sena.

"The decline in the state's economy is evident under the BJP government," Chidambaram said. "Maharashtra was built brick by brick to be the number one state in India by the Congress."

Referring to Maharashtra's economic performance, Chidambaram highlighted a sharp slowdown in its GDP growth, which dropped from 9.4% in 2022-23 to 7.6% in 2023-24. He also noted that the state's fiscal deficit had risen dramatically, from ?67,000 crore to ?1,12,000 crore.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing them of deliberately delaying the helicopters of both him and Rahul Gandhi in Jharkhand. Kharge also alleged that, despite holding the rank of cabinet ministers, opposition leaders were denied access to the reserved airport lounge.

Rahul Gandhi's helicopter, which was scheduled to take him from Mahagama in Jharkhand’s Godda district after he addressed an election rally, was grounded for nearly two hours on Friday. This led to allegations from the Congress that the delay was politically motivated.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi was reportedly stranded at Deoghar airport for almost two hours on Friday, with a 'no-fly zone' declared in the region's airspace while the issue was being resolved, according to officials.

Kharge said, "Yesterday, our leader Rahul Gandhi's helicopter was deliberately delayed by two hours while the Prime Minister was waiting in his plane. Today, my helicopter was delayed by 20 minutes because Union Home Minister Amit Shah was landing. Our paths were separate, yet my departure was delayed."

He continued, "Rahul Gandhi ji, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, holds the rank of a cabinet minister, as do I. But when we went to the airport's reserved lounge, officials told us it was exclusively for Prime Minister Modi. I want to ask, can even a toilet be reserved for the Prime Minister?"

Kharge also criticised the BJP over the issue of infiltration, which the party had raised. He accused Modi and Shah of scaring the public without taking any real action. "Are PM Modi and Amit Shah asleep? Why can't they stop infiltration, despite being in power? If they can halt a helicopter, why can't they stop infiltrators?" he questioned.

Union home minister Amit Shah addressed a public meeting in the Dumka Assembly constituency on Saturday, where he launched a strong attack on the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress, accusing them of misleading the tribal community and harbouring infiltrators.

Speaking on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Shah reassured the tribal population that they would not be affected by its implementation. He said, "The JMM and Congress are spreading rumours in Jharkhand that the UCC will harm tribals. Tribal brothers and sisters, don’t worry – you will not be included under the UCC. You will not face any issues because of it."

Shah also accused the JMM and Congress of protecting infiltrators, which he claimed had resulted in the erosion of tribal land and population. "Once the BJP forms the government in Jharkhand, we will work to expel every single infiltrator from here," he vowed.

Taking aim at Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Shah remarked, "When you were fighting for Jharkhand, you faced bullets and beatings. The Congress government denied Jharkhand its rights, and today, to become Chief Minister, Hemant has embraced the very same Congress."

Shah also highlighted the government's efforts to honour tribal icons, including the contributions of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. "Yesterday marked the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. A statue of Bhagwan Birsa Munda was unveiled at Sarai Kale Khan Chowk in Delhi, which Hemant Babu opposes," he added.

NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday held a press conference ahead of the Maharashtra elections, where he criticised Maharashtra Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing him and his associates of attempting to sow religious discord by using the term "Vote Jihad."

Addressing the media, Pawar said, "Devendra Fadnavis and his associates are trying to create religious division by using the term 'Vote Jihad'. Meanwhile, farmers are committing suicide, the prices of soybean and cotton continue to fall, and farmers are angry. Educational institutions are growing, the youth are getting educated, but they lack employment opportunities. There are so many pressing issues in Maharashtra."

"It seems the people of Maharashtra want change. After their defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, they are acknowledging this defeat," he said.

The NCP (SP) leader further added that although the ruling party had introduced various schemes aimed at benefiting people, such as the Rs 1,500 monthly financial assistance for women, these measures would likely make little impact in addressing the state's wider issues.

"Schemes are being introduced to keep people as happy as possible, like the Ladli Behan Yojana, which gives Rs 1,500 a month to women. While it may make a slight difference, I don’t believe it will have much of an effect in the long term," Pawar said.

Earlier, Fadnavis had accused the opposition of engaging in "vote jihad" and urged voters to respond with a "dharmyuddh" (religious war) of votes.

"Vote jihad is taking place in the state. Sajjad Nomani has promoted the 'Vote Jihad' slogan, and you saw in the video who is behind this. I want to tell you all that if they are doing vote jihad, we must counter it with a 'dharmyuddh' of votes. If they are united, we must be united too," Fadnavis said.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are set for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23.

Speaking at a public gathering in Jamtara, Jharkhand, Kharge challenged the ruling party's ability to address the infiltration issue despite holding power at the Centre.

During his address, Kharge stated, "They (BJP) are scaring us in the name of infiltrators. You are in the central government, you are the Prime Minister, you are the home minister, then from where did the infiltrators enter?"

He remarked, "Ghuspetiya andar aa rahe aur Shah Sahab so rahe."

"Who is responsible for the decreasing population of Adivasis? You (CM Hemant Soren) are responsible for this. If BJP forms government in Jharkhand, we will drive out all the intruders one by one. These infiltrators snatch away our youth's employment, they marry the daughters of Adivasis to get hold of their land. Hemant Soren can not stop them, he is more interested in making his vote bank with the help of these infiltrators," says Union home minister Amit Shah, addressing a public gathering in Dumka.

"(CM) Hemant Soren, with the help of Congress, wants to give reservations to Muslims. If Muslims are to be given reservations, then the reservation of SCs, STs, and OBCs will have to be cut down. As long as we have even a single MLA, we will protect the reservation of backward castes and Adivasis," says Union home minister Amit Shah, addressing a public gathering in Dumka.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that his party views the Constitution as fundamental to the nation's identity, whilst claiming the BJP and RSS regard it as inconsequential.

Speaking at the event, the Lok Sabha Opposition Leader criticised the BJP, stating that the Constitution does not sanction the practice of purchasing MLAs to overthrow governments, as witnessed in Maharashtra, nor does it permit the writing off of Rs 16 lakh crore in debts for prominent industrialists.

"Congress considers the Constitution as the country's DNA, while for the ruling BJP and the RSS it is a blank book," he stated.

"It gives me happiness, I have conducted 5-6 meetings here in Jharkhand, Rahul Gandhi has also conducted many meetings, but I don't know what happens to the central government when we come here. Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi was stopped for two hours, and the PM was sitting in his plane. Today, I was stopped for 20 minutes as Amit Shah was landing. PM Modi comes in all our ways. Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition, I am also an Opposition leader, but people say that places are reserved for them only. Is this democracy? It will not continue, people are smart. They have become weak, have two new legs, one of TDP, and the other of JD(U). They are with support, and still trying to intimidate others. We are natives of this country, we will not get intimidated," says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressing a public meeting in Jamtara.

Nation's security lies with you (PM), instead of checking infiltration, you are frightening people: Kharge said at a rally in Jharkhand.

Sarna religious code symbol of tribal pride, need to be protected: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Jamtara.

Before Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's campaign in Shirdi, Maharashtra, party leader Balasaheb Thorat anticipated major public attendance at what he expects to be a huge rally.

In his conversation with ANI, Thorat stated, "The atmosphere here is entirely for Priyanka ji (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra). A lot of people are going to come. It is going to be a huge rally. She is coming here to campaign for our Maha Vikas Aghadi, for our candidate. She will visit Sai Mandir and seek blessings."

Shirdi's Congress candidate, Prabhavati J. Ghogare, confirmed that Priyanka's schedule includes visiting Sai Baba temple before addressing the public gathering.

She expressed, "Priyanka ji (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) is coming to Shirdi for the first time. First, she will have the darshan of Sai Baba and then address a rally. A large crowd has gathered...My victory is certain."

Additionally, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal assessed the electoral preparations in Amravati alongside Lok Sabha observers and assembly coordinators.

On social media platform X, Venugopal shared, "Took stock of our Maharashtra assembly election preparations with Lok Sabha Observers and Assembly Coordinators in Amravati. The response from the ground is extremely encouraging and the people are on our side - MVA will form the next government in Maharashtra!"

"Narendra Modi and the people of the BJP murder the Constitution in closed rooms. When Adani, Amit Shah, and BJP members were sitting in a meeting to steal the Maharashtra government, were they protecting the Constitution? Today, the entire Maharashtra knows that: That government was stolen because of Dharavi, as BJP-Narendra Modi wanted to give Dharavi's land to their friend Adani," Rahul Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi said: "My sister was telling me that she heard Modi ji's speech. And in that speech, whatever we say, Modi ji is saying the same thing these days. I don't know, maybe he has lost his memory. The former President of America, used to forget, he had to be reminded from behind. The President of Ukraine came and the President of America said that Russian President Putin has come. He had lost his memory, similarly, our Prime Minister is losing his memory..."

Kharge made these comments at a rally in Jamtara. @nd phase of voting Jharkhand is set to take place on November 20.

For us, Constitution book is country's DNA, while it is blank for RSS and BJP: Rahul Gandhi in Maharashtra's Amravati

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticised Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, labelling him as "Dharamdrohi" in response to Fadnavis's "Dharamyuddh" comments. Raut suggested that such rhetoric emerges when they anticipate electoral defeat.

During a press interaction in Mumbai, Raut stated, "In the Maharashtra elections, they go to Jharkhand and talk about a 'Dharmayuddh' (religious war). In Maharashtra, there is only one 'dharma,' and that is the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which unites us all in its defense. Eknath Shinde and the BJP have a different 'dharma'--they focus on Hindu-Muslim divides. When the time comes for them to face defeat, they start talking about 'Dharmayuddh."

Raut also questioned Fadnavis's statement about hoisting the Indian flag in Pakistan. He pointed out that the elections concerned the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, questioning the relevance of Pakistan. He challenged them to first raise the flag in PoK, accusing them of making empty promises and betraying dharma, stating "aap to dharamdrohi hai."

On Friday, Fadnavis had accused the opposition of conducting "vote jihad" and called upon voters to counter it with a "dharmyuddh" of votes. He stated, "Vote jihad is going on in the state. Sajjad Nomani says...Vote jihad slogan has been given and you heard in the video that who is the leader of this vote jihad. I want to tell you all that if they do vote jihad, we have to do 'dharmyuddh' of vote. Ek hain to safe hain."

Karnataka Deputy chief minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar projected that Maha Vikas Aghadi would secure more than 165 to 170 seats in Maharashtra.

He stated, "We are going to win more than 165 to 170 seats. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will form the government. They (BJP) have confused people that we have not implemented our guarantees, but we assured people, we have held a press conference. Now people know that we have implemented all the guarantees."

During a press interaction, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka's governance framework, including anti-inflation initiatives, has become a nationwide reference point.

He expressed satisfaction that there is now recognition of inflation's impact on ordinary citizens across the country, noting that other regions are adopting Karnataka's administrative approach.
Addressing the Waqf land controversy, Shivakumar clarified the Congress government's position, stating, "...we have all the records that it started during the BJP's time. But my chief minister and my ministers have already made it clear that land of any farmer will not be taken."

He further criticised the BJP's actions, stating, "You are creating confusion in the minds of the public. And you are seeing that there will be a big internal communal clash that you are planning to do. But we have all records that this has started the term of BJP."

Rajasthan chief minister Bhajanlal Sharma addressed Maharashtra residents from Rajasthan on Saturday, encouraging them to support Mahayuti in the forthcoming assembly elections.

At a campaign event supporting Mahesh Kisanrao Landge, who seeks a third term as Mahayuti candidate from Bhosari Assembly constituency in Pune, CM Sharma discussed India's achievements since 2014. "The transformations in India since 2014--be it welfare programs for the poor, development initiatives, the reduction of terrorism and Naxalism, or India's growing global stature, you have seen all this. That is why I am here to request you: tell your friends and relatives that we have to Maharashtra strong, make a developed India, and ensure the nation's progress," Sharma said.

He discussed Rajasthan's recent progress, saying, "Just 11 months ago, there was a Congress government in Rajasthan. You have seen what the state of affairs of the youth, law and order, and electricity condition was. In these 11 months, we have delivered on 50 per cent of our poll promises. Congress is the creator of corruption and spreads false narrative. Their alliance partners are even more corrupt. Only Mahayuti can take initiative to develop the constituency."

In a separate development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Nagpur South-West Assembly constituency, Devendra Fadnavis, on Friday challenged the opposition's alleged "vote jihad" and called for voters to respond with a "dharmyuddh" of votes.

Fadnavis stated, "Vote jihad is going on in the state. Sajjad Nomani says...Vote jihad slogan has been given and you heard in the video that who is the leader of this vote jihad. I want to tell you all that if they do vote jihad, we have to do 'dharmyuddh' of vote. Ek hain to safe hain."

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) official Manoj Pandey asserted that the BJP's mere participation in the elections should be viewed as a significant accomplishment, given that Jharkhand's residents have already decided to establish Abua's administration in the state.

In his statement to ANI, Pandey remarked, "If the account is opened on one seat, then the people of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should consider it as an achievement. The people have already made their mind that Abua's government will be formed in Jharkhand. Santhal has been a land of movement. The situation today and the atmosphere indicate that Santhal will be one-sided."
Pandey stated that the Santhals would expel the outside administrators from their territory.

He additionally stated, "These big infiltrators who are coming from outside, sitting in big airplanes and helicopters, the Santhal will do the work of driving them all out. The BJP government won't have even one vote."

Previously on Friday, Union Minister and BJP representative Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticised JMM regarding tribal welfare, pointing out that the tribal population in Santhal had declined from 44 per cent to 28 per cent. He noted that the tribal community had become a minority in Pakur.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh expressed strong conviction about winning the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Saturday, stating that the present Mahayuti administration was obtained through improper means rather than through public mandate.

In his conversation with ANI, Digvijay highlighted that the public had initially chosen a coalition comprising Congress, Shiv Sena and the NCP.

"The government is a stolen one. It is not a publicly elected government. The public elected the alliance government of Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP... They also tried to bring down the Jharkhand government. They sent the sitting CM to jail even when they had no reason to do so. Also, the court questioned why he was arrested... I am sure that in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, our alliance government will be formed," he stated.

The opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi, consisting of NCP(SP), Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), aims to unseat the current Mahayuti coalition, which comprises BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar).

Electoral activities have gained momentum for Maharashtra's 288 assembly constituencies, with both the governing Mahayuti and the opposition MVA actively engaging with voters.

The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23.

Vinod Tawde, BJP general secretary, has defended the slogan 'batenge toh katenge' used during the Maharashtra assembly election campaign, stating it reflects a factual situation. Whilst UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has repeatedly used this slogan in his speeches, BJP leaders from Maharashtra, including Pankaja Munde and Ashok Chavan, have expressed concerns about its potentially divisive communal undertones. When questioned about these concerns on October 13, Tawde maintained that "'Batenge toh katenge' is a reality."

The former Maharashtra minister elaborated on his stance by referencing the historical events in Jammu and Kashmir, where the Kashmiri Pandits suffered due to division. He emphasised that fragmentation benefits adversaries and cautioned against divisions based on caste and community. Tawde highlighted the complementary slogan 'ek hai toh safe hai', stressing the importance of unity for progress.

Maharashtra's Deputy chief minister and BJP nominee from Nagpur South-West Assembly constituency, Devendra Fadnavis alleged that the opposition was engaging in "vote jihad" and called upon voters to respond with a "dharmyuddh" of votes.

"Vote jihad is going on in the state. Sajjad Nomani says...Vote jihad slogan has been given and you heard in the video that who is the leader of this vote jihad. I want to tell you all that if they do vote jihad, we have to do 'dharmyuddh' of vote. Ek hain to safe hain," were his exact words.

Fadnavis stated that certain opposition parties were attempting to create electoral divisions for political advantage, whilst emphasising that his party holds no prejudice against any religious group and their schemes benefit everyone.

With elections approaching, political activities are intensifying across Maharashtra. The opposition alliance MVA, consisting of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), is striving to defeat the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which comprises Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, BJP, and Ajit Pawar's NCP.

A significant electoral contest is expected in Baramati between Ajit Pawar and his nephew Yugendra Pawar, son of Ajit's younger brother Shrinivas Pawar. Previously, Baramati witnessed a notable Lok Sabha battle in 2024 when Sunetra Pawar contested against Supriya Sule, who emerged victorious with 1.5 lakh votes.

The state assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with vote counting on November 23.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said that there will be no Mahayuti after November 23 and added that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will form the government in Maharashtra. Raut also asserted that the MVA alliance is strong and united in the state.

Speaking to reporters, Raut said, "The people of Maharashtra do not trust the Prime Minister's statement. This is Maha Vikas Aghadi. We three are together. We are one and we are safer in Maharashtra than you. And the second thing is that the people will decide whose remote control is in whose hands. You may have the remote control of the Shiv Sena you have made after dividing the party, but we refrained from giving our (Shiv Sena UBT) remote control to you and that's why you are irked with us. We are 'swabhimani' and hence won't fall for your tricks. I have said earlier also that after November 23, there will be no Mahayuti because there will be no CM. They will not make Eknath Shinde the CM or LoP. They will not get the majority. We are forming the government..."

Amid the uproar over Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar's controversial remarks targeting Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the BJP leader accused his opponents of launching personal attacks out of desperation.

In an interview with ANI, Fadnavis said, "The Prime Minister is right when he emphasizes women's development and women-led social reforms. Over the last five years, when Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar failed to act against me through any investigations, he resorted to personal attacks. His troll army even targeted my wife over the Instagram reels she created."

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Kalpana Soren on Friday alleged that the BJP is "scared" of the growing number of beneficiaries under welfare schemes introduced by Chief Minister Hemant Soren's government. Speaking at a public meeting in the Madhupur assembly constituency of Deoghar district, Soren claimed that the BJP is conspiring against the popular state administration.

"It is the Hemant (Soren) government that implemented the Sarvjan Pension Yojana and Mainya Samman Yojana, which, for the first time, aim to empower women financially," said Kalpana Soren, who represents the Gandey constituency in the Jharkhand assembly.

Highlighting the impact of the initiatives, she stated that 55 lakh women have already been covered under the Mainya Samman Yojana, with plans to extend the scheme’s benefits to even more in the near future.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh criticised the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi for their promise to conduct a caste census, accusing them of using the issue as a "ploy to manipulate voters for political gain".

"In 2011, a socio-economic caste census was conducted, which revealed the presence of around 46 lakh castes, sub-castes, and gotras. According to the Ministry of Social Welfare, there are about 1,200 Scheduled Castes (SC), over 750 Scheduled Tribes (ST), and around 2,500 Other Backward Classes (OBCs). How will the Congress manage the distribution of reservation quotas among all these groups?" Singh asked.

He further demanded that the Congress present a clear blueprint for implementing such a system.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday described the Jharkhand assembly election as a clash of ideologies, pitting the BJP’s alleged agenda of “hatred and division” against a vision of “love, development, and constitutional protection” championed by the ruling coalition.

Speaking at an election rally in Deoghar, Yadav accused the BJP of attempting to topple the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government, alleging the party had failed to form a government in 2019 and resorted to using central agencies to destabilize the administration.

"This election is a battle between two ideologies-one that spreads hatred, destruction, and attempts to change the Constitution, and another that we follow, which is focused on spreading love, working for development, and protecting the constitution," Yadav said.

Yadav further alleged that the BJP’s attempts to undermine Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government extended to efforts to imprison Soren when other strategies failed.