Hemant govt lacks vision for self-reliant Jharkhand, says BJP MP Arun Singh

BJP national general secretary and MP Arun Singh on Monday said the Hemant Soren government lacks a coherent plan for building a self-reliant Jharkhand, arguing that the ruling coalition often shifts blame to the Centre to cover its own failures.

Singh was in Ranchi to review the Atmanirbhar Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan, which he described as a nationwide effort aimed at a developed India by 2047. He said the state’s claim of achieving a “developed Jharkhand” by 2050 rings hollow in the absence of a meaningful strategy. No new roadmap for growth has emerged in the past six years and pointed to persistent shortages in schools and hospitals, as well as delays in basic road repairs. He also alleged misuse of DMFT funds and irregularities in Bokaro.

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Most of the development visible in Jharkhand, he said, is the result of Centre’s initiatives. He noted the rise in national infrastructure spending from Rs 2.5 lakh crore during the UPA years to Rs 12.5 lakh crore at present. For Jharkhand, he said, Rs 35,000 crore has been allocated under Bharatmala.

Commenting on the Bihar Assembly results, Singh called the NDA’s victory a mandate for what he termed Modi’s guarantees and Nitish Kumar’s governance. He said the INDIA bloc had failed to present a development-focused agenda and added that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had shown poor judgement by criticising India abroad.

He said fissures within the INDIA bloc would deepen, especially after the Congress declined to support the JMM in Bihar. This, he said, would have long-term implications even if the coalition retains power in Jharkhand. On the Ghatshila bypoll, Singh said the JMM’s win was driven more by sympathy and the “misuse of power” than performance.

Earlier, the BJP MP attended a meeting of the Swadeshi Sankalp Abhiyan at the party headquarters. State president and Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi chaired the session, which was attended by senior leaders, district units and frontal organisations.

Marandi said strengthening indigenous products in Jharkhand would support both the state economy and the wider national push for self-reliance. He said the recent festive-season demand had lent fresh momentum to the swadeshi campaign.

Karmveer Singh, state organisation general secretary, said the “Har Ghar Swadeshi” message should reach every home through pledge drives, community meetings, fairs and outreach events. Campaign national co-convener and state general secretary Pradeep Verma described the movement as part of India’s quest for economic independence and long-term global competitiveness.

Arun Singh said the public had already signalled its support for a self-reliant and developed India.