Jharkhand: JMM objects to BJP’s ‘Gogo Didi Yojana,’ cites violation of EC rules

Hemant Soren orders DC to take action against poll rule violations

Ranchi, October 7: The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has raised strong objections to the BJP’s ‘Gogo Didi Yojana’, which promises to provide Rs 2,100 per month to women if the party wins the upcoming elections in Jharkhand. The scheme is seen as a counter to the Hemant Soren-led government’s ‘Maiyan Samman Yojana’.

The BJP has already started distributing forms for the ‘Gogo Didi Yojana’ to potential beneficiaries, but the JMM claims this violates Election Commission of India (ECI) rules. JMM leaders have publicly criticized the BJP, accusing it of ignoring poll regulations, and expressed frustration with the ECI’s inaction.

On the social media platform X, the JMM questioned the BJP’s ability to bypass regulations, particularly with elections around the corner. The party wrote, “The BJP is constantly flouting the rules of the Election Commission of India. Does the BJP have special exemption? Even with so much relaxation, the party could only secure 240 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. The Election Commission says no forms can be filled, but BJP leaders continue to break the rules while the EC remains silent.”

In response, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed all Deputy Commissioners in the state to strictly enforce EC guidelines. He urged them to take action against any violations, ensuring that no one in the state is allowed to break poll regulations. Several district administrations have since issued public notices, warning citizens that the ‘Gogo Didi Yojana’ is not a government-backed initiative and urging them to ignore misleading advertisements.

Meanwhile, the BJP has dismissed these actions as unconstitutional. BJP state president Babulal Marandi accused the Hemant Soren government of feeling threatened by the growing public support for the BJP and lacking proper legal understanding.

He reiterated that the ‘Gogo Didi Yojana,’ part of the BJP’s broader ‘Panch Pran’ (five vows) initiative, aims to empower women economically and socially. According to Marandi, BJP workers are actively collecting forms to ensure women are benefited from the scheme once the party forms the government.

Marandi further claimed that the JMM-led government is deliberately creating hurdles to block this public welfare initiative, even going so far as to falsely implicate BJP workers in legal cases to discourage them. He vowed that BJP workers would continue their mission undeterred, despite any legal or physical intimidation.

Marandi also declared that he would personally join party members in mobilizing women to fill out forms for the ‘Gogo Didi Yojana’, asserting the BJP’s commitment to its cause.