'Won't Let BJP Snatch Your Lands', Rahul Gandhi Assures Jharkhand Tribals

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP had won 37 seats, its then alliance partner, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) five, while the JMM got 19, the Congress took six, and the JVM had eight. The six remaining seats were won by other parties. The BJP and the AJSU are contesting separately this time.

Simdega (Jharkhand assembly elections 219): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that if the Opposition coalition will make sure the lands of tribals are protected if it comes to power. He also promised to waive farm loans and vowed to change the state, which has a significant tribal population, just like neighbouring Chhattisgarh where his party stormed to power last year.

Addressing a poll rally here, Gandhi said within a year of coming to power, the Congress government has changed the scenario in Chhattisgarh.

"You (tribals) have land, forests and water we are there to protect them," he said.

Gandhi said the BJP government in Chhattisgarh "snatched" lands of tribals and gave to industrialists, but the Congress government returned their lands.

"Wherever we promised to waive farm loans, we did so after coming to power. In Jharkhand as well, we will do the same if our coalition is voted to power," Gandhi added.

The rally comes two days after the first of the five-phase polling.


Contesting the Assembly polls in alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress is fighting 31 out of 81 seats in the state. The JMM is contesting 43 and the RJD the other seven.

JMM leader and former Chief Minister Hemant Soren is the alliance's Chief Ministerial face.

The ruling BJP is campaigning aggressively with Prime Minister Narendra Modi its main campaigner, while Union Home Minister and BJP President Amit Shah and several other senior BJP leaders have also addressed rallies in the state.

In the 2014 assembly elections, the JMM, Congress and the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha had formed an alliance. However, the JVM has moved away this time.

The Congress-JMM have aligned with the RJD this time.

In the 2014 Assembly elections, the BJP had won 37 seats, its then alliance partner, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) five, while the JMM got 19, the Congress took six, and the JVM had eight. The six remaining seats were won by other parties. The BJP and the AJSU are contesting separately this time.

(With additional information from Agencies)