Hemant Soren Challenges Himanta Biswa Sarma, Criticizes Country’s Economic Situation

Ranchi/Tinsukia: With the 2026 Assam Assembly elections around the corner, political activity is heating up. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren visited Tinsukia to explore support for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and launched a sharp attack on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma without naming him directly.

Political Retaliation Ahead of Elections

During the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections, Himanta Biswa Sarma had camped in Ranchi for several days in an attempt to unseat Hemant Soren. Soren had then promised to respond at the right time. Fulfilling that promise, he began his Assam election campaign on Sunday by addressing a tribal convention organized by the Assam Tribal Students’ Association in Tinsukia, effectively challenging Sarma.

Allegations of Discrimination Against Migrant Tribals

Hemant Soren accused the Assam government of dividing the tribal community and discriminating against migrant tribals. “The tribal society has been divided in the name of ST and T tribes. Assam will soon witness assembly elections, and people will hold the government accountable for its performance over the last five years,” Soren said. He added that tribal migrants from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal have been treated unjustly in Assam.

Economic Concerns

Soren also criticized the current economic management in Assam and the country. “Today, those in power are not social leaders, they are businessmen. Chanakya said that when a country is ruled by merchants, its people will be impoverished. The current state of the economy is clear to everyone. The value of the rupee has fallen, inflation is soaring, and basic commodities like footwear, salt, oil, and school supplies have become expensive,” he said.

Inflation and Policy Criticism

The JMM leader further attacked central economic policies. “The government came to power promising to reduce inflation, but nothing changed. They promised ₹15 lakh in every account — what happened? Demonetization wiped out household savings. GST, inflation, and other policies have drained people’s pockets. The economic backbone of citizens has been weakened,” he added.

Public Response

The gathering ended with chants of “Long Live Hemant Soren” and “Leader of the Tribal Community,” indicating strong local support. Analysts suggest that JMM is likely to field candidates in the upcoming Assam Assembly elections at the end of this year.