The Enforcement Directorate (ED) case, the jail term, the strong and polarising narrative of the BJP. All of these factors do not seem to have deterred Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren or the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the state’s polls. As of numbers till 4:30 pm, the JMM was leading in 34 seats, four seats more than the tally last time.

In an interview with The Indian Express over a phone call, Soren said the people of Jharkhand have their own “worldview”, adding the results were an answer to the BJP, which is “indifferent to tribals”. Excerpts:

* The INDIA bloc is set for a big return to power in Jharkhand… How are you feeling at the moment?

Hum kya bole…. Thoda sa hain emotional (What should I say, I am a bit emotional).

* The JMM’s performance this time is an improvement from the 30 seats in 2019… What resonated with voters?

During the no-confidence motion (which was held in July, after Soren was released from jail) in the Assembly, I had said that I will not leave those who sent me to jail in a false case.

* The BJP’s central narrative in Jharkhand was ‘infiltration’. However, that seems to have not worked…

I had countered their narrative and did not pay heed to the divisive politics. The BJP just had their eyes on the resources of the state. I also reiterated to the electorate my welfare schemes.

Mere baaton mein dum tha, tabhi to logon ne mujh par bharosa kiya (My words carried weight and that is why people reposed their faith in me).

I saved the people from getting misled by the BJP’s propaganda and divisive politics.

* What do you have to say about Maharashtra, where the BJP-led alliance has trounced the Opposition?

The people of Jharkhand have a different worldview. The state (Jharkhand) has a different nature, character, castes, languages, geographical conditions… Boss, ye state humko ragad ghas ke mila hai, ye rajya humen logon ke bal se mila hai, alag hi soch ke saath chalti hai (We have got this state by perseverance, due to the power of the people. The state operates as per a different thinking altogether).

Bhagwan (God) Birsa Munda is a revered icon now after all these years… But the saffron party (BJP) has reduced him to mere symbolism.

* What symbolism are you talking about ?

They picked up my proposer (referring to Mandal Murmu) and made him join the BJP. They also picked up the lineage of Birsa Munda and put him in an exhibition. They just want to indulge in symbolism by making a tribal president (Droupadi Murmu)… However, largely they treat others in the tribal community indifferently.

* Have you spoken to your wife Kalpana Soren?

She has been very busy in her constituency (Gandey) and I have not been able to talk to her, but her contribution has been immense.

* What would be the focus in your next government?

There is not a single area in the state which does not not need attention. This is one of the poorest states and social security is the need of the hour. Aadmi zinda rahega tab na koi struggle karega… Aur unko to sirf zinda rakhne ke liye anaj de rahe hain, development kya hoga unka (People need to live to struggle in the state… And to make them live we are just giving them a meagre amount of ration… How will development happen for them)?

* How do you assess your own record of governance?

The badmasheiyan (mischief) of the BJP needs to come down, then see how far I will take the state. But you have to understand that Jharkhand is not Gujarat. But I will make them self-sufficient on their own terms. We will open all doors to generate employment in the state, whether government or private.

* Healthcare and educational access remain major problems in the state…

The (health) department was with (ally) Congress, but I will monitor the healthcare myself this time.

On education, the focus is on English-medium government schools. We will give English newspapers to the students. I want to build libraries. Overall, there has to be cultural and social development. I also plan to send students to learn from their peers in different states. There are a lot of things in the pipeline.