Kalpana Soren, Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s (JMM) Gandey MLA, is aiming for her second electoral victory months after her maiden bypoll win. Since her husband’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in January this year, Kalpana has emerged as a key party leader whose presence as a star campaigner has been in demand across the state over the course of this Assembly election. In an interview with The Indian Express, Kalpana speaks about the state’s political landscape, the issues in this election and her political journey. Excerpts:

* November 15 marks the 24 years since the formation of Jharkhand. Do you think the idea behind creating a separate state has been realised?

The question should be asked of the BJP, which governed the state for 18 years, though there is still a lot to do. Our friends in the BJP took the state backwards with their policies.

The Hemant Soren government conducted two Jharkhand Public Service Commission examinations as opposed to zero during (former CM) Raghubar Das’s tenure. The youth of Jharkhand have to understand that the Hemant Soren government is with them. When exams got cancelled, we had to take legal recourse. We suspended the internet for a few hours to ensure the examinations could be conducted without any rumours of cheating, and a PIL was filed opposing that. We are fighting it legally too. However, it is a time consuming process, and we understand that the youth may be crossing the age limit. We are committed towards conducting other competitive examinations too.

Various other schemes such as housing for the poor, increased pensions and direct benefit transfers for women have been given under this government.

* In most constituencies that have voted so far in the first phase, women turned out in greater numbers than men. While one reason could be that men have migrated, do you think women-centric welfare schemes have resonated well?

This is the first time since Jharkhand’s formation that women and girls have got strong schemes to support themselves. For instance, the Savitribai Phule scheme, which gives students from Class 8 to 12 assistance every year; the Phulo Jhano scheme, which gives loans to women (earlier involved in the production and sale of liquor) to start their own businesses; and now the Maiyya Samman scheme (which gives women aged 21 to 50 a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000). Women in Jharkhand need social security schemes, and Hemant Soren gave them strength. In my speeches also, I raise the issue that women-centric welfare schemes in Jharkhand have been revolutionary, and I think politically we will benefit.

* You are a new entrant in electoral politics. How has your journey been so far?

I have been on the go since the Maiyya Samman yatra was launched in September, and now we are in the last leg of election campaigning. Women have to go through a lot, like bear pain (physiologically), but I am still standing. I have a fever, sore throat, but when I see women of my state giving blessings, I get recharged. I feel very proud when I see a large number of mothers and sisters participating in my sabhas across the state.

* How do you respond to those who have trolled you on social media?

The problem is that Jharkhand mein hum muddon ki baat nahin karte (we don’t talk about issues). The Opposition does not want to talk about the domicile policy, reservation for the backward classes, the resolution on the Sarna religious code (for tribals) – all of which we have passed in the Assembly.

We talk about development, and they (the Opposition) misdirect people from the issues. The people of Jharkhand know that they (the BJP) can stoop to their lowest. In Jharkhand, we are fighting on issues, and the public opinion is with us.

* Have things changed between you and Hemant Soren, particularly after you became an MLA?

I can tell you that in our personal time together, we only exchange preliminary greetings and then we talk about the people of Jharkhand. We don’t talk about ourselves like we used to do as a couple earlier. The 4 crore people of Jharkhand have showered so much love on us and we have a responsibility. We do share talking points on our speeches and keep ourselves abreast of the political developments.

* If the JMM-led coalition forms the government again, what will be its priority?

The youth have suffered a lot. Our priority will be to generate jobs.