MATURE SOREN ADOPTS ‘SOFT TOUCH' POLICY

Withdraws case against former CM Raghubar Das; drops tenancy law protest cases against thousands in a bid to reassure tribals

- Amitabh Srivastava

A day after election results handed the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led opposition alliance a decisive victory—47 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly—Hemant Soren drove to the residence of Babulal Marandi, chief of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM).

Unwilling to back Soren as the chief ministerial candidate, Marandi had broken away from the JMM-led alliance in November and contested the assembly poll on his own. The results proved how unwise the decision was. Though its three-seat haul had left the JVM in a position of no leverage, Soren nevertheless made it a point to meet Marandi and seek ‘advice’. The gesture floored Marandi, who declared ‘unconditional support’ to the new government.

Next, Soren withdrew a case under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that he had lodged against former chief minister and rival Raghubar Das of the BJP. Soren had filed a complaint on December 19 over an objectionable comment made by Das.