According to sources Kalpana Soren, the wife of hemant Soren, has also emerged as the X-factor in the election. While the bjp has banked on the charisma of Modi and Shah by pulling in big crowds to their rallies, the JMM has heavily depended on Kalpana’s “woman power".
Meanwhile she has gone from block to block connecting with women voters, who on many occasions have been spotted listening to her with rapt attention. A political novice who made her electoral debut after her husband’s arrest, she is in demand to campaign for the india candidates as well. Originally from Odisha, she has managed to negate the outsider tag too by connecting with tribal women in smaller sabhas. The bjp has tried to counter this scheme by promising Rs 2,000 if voted to power. But, in a game of populism, the JMM-led coalition government announced that the scheme amount will go up to Rs 2,500 if it returns to power.
Moreover the bjp, however, has accused the JMM-Congress-RJD of turning a blind eye to national security and tribal rights to appease their Muslim vote bank. But, in Santhal Pargana, the real vote bank could be women. Come november 23, the answer will be out. The question this time is the choice between economic samman of the maiya, or the more existential, roti, beti, maati.
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