Ranchi, Nov 3 (IANS) – As Jharkhand gears up for its upcoming Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will release the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) manifesto, or "Sankalp Patra, " in Ranchi today. Shah is set to unveil 25 key points to mark 25 years since Jharkhand's formation, alongside a 150-point document in honor of the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Birsa Munda.
Shah's visit comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies in the state on November 4, followed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s public meeting in Jamshedpur on November 5. BJP’s campaign in Jharkhand focuses on establishing a "double-engine" government to address what Shah and other leaders describe as a halt in development under the current Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-Congress administration.
In addition to releasing the manifesto, Shah will hold rallies in Ghatshila, Barkatha, and Simaria, targeting key regions ahead of the November 13 and November 20 voting phases. BJP's Jharkhand election in-charge, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, emphasized that the party aims to reverse its performance from 2019, when it saw a drop in Assembly seats from 37 to 25, losing ground in tribal-dominated areas.
With the upcoming Assembly polls, the BJP has spotlighted issues like tribal conversions and alleged corruption under the JMM government. The party's campaign emphasizes new development agendas, welfare for tribal communities, and efforts to improve infrastructure. Amit Shah and PM Modi's back-to-back visits are expected to give a momentum boost to BJP's electoral efforts.
Meanwhile, the ruling JMM-Congress alliance is promoting welfare initiatives like the Maiyya Samman Yojna, which offers financial support to women aged 18-50.
Jharkhand's Assembly elections will be held in two phases, with votes counted on November 23.