As Jharkhand prepares for its upcoming Assembly elections, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s affidavit filed along with his nomination from the Barhait constituency has sparked controversy over discrepancies in his stated age.
According to the affidavit, Soren’s age has increased by seven years over a period of five years. In his 2019 nomination, his age was mentioned as 42 years, whereas this year’s document lists him as 49, prompting questions and criticism.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded the cancellation of Soren’s nomination, alleging discrepancies in his age. Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo questioned how someone’s age could increase by seven years in a span of five years.
Moreover, the BJP raised concerns about a decrease in Soren’s income, from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, and claimed that several assets were not disclosed in the affidavit. BJP leaders have also filed complaints with election officials, intending to escalate the matter to the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Chief Minister and BJP co-incharge for Jharkhand Assembly elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the entire system of JMM is fake. “If you look at the details of their property in the affidavit, their age has also increased. This is a government of infiltrators”, he alleged.
However, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) defended Soren and termed the BJP’s actions a result of frustration. JMM leader Manoj Pandey stated that all documentation filed for the nomination was verified, dismissing the allegations as “baseless”. He further added that the BJP’s focus on the affidavit shows “their fear of a major defeat in Jharkhand”. He also emphasised that the JMM has always maintained transparency in its declarations.
Reacting to the controversy, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal dismissed the allegations as a “diversion tactic” by the Bharatiya Janata Party. He stated, “They (BJP) will come up with new issues to divert attention… We are confident that we will win and form the government again.”