Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Maji on Sunday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the saffron party of struggling to find a suitable candidate to contest against chief minister Hemant Soren in the upcoming state assembly elections. 

Maji’s comments come a day after the BJP released its first list of 66 candidates for the polls, yet withheld names for two crucial constituencies: Barhait, where Soren is the incumbent, and Tundi. 

As per the latest seat-sharing arrangement in the NDA, the BJP will contest 68 seats, AJSU Party 10, JD (U) two and LJP (Ram Vilas) one.

“BJP is finding no suitable candidate to field against chief minister Hemant Soren in Barhait seat. Actually, the work done by the chief minister has scared BJP leaders,” Maji said.

“I have heard that the saffron party asked several senior leaders to contest against Hemant Soren but all have declined, as it may ruin their careers.” 

Also Read | Jharkhand polls: Soren announces INDIA bloc seat sharing formula; RJD disagrees Maji lambasted the BJP for offering election tickets to former JMM leaders who have recently defected and accused the party of lacking originality and relying on turncoats to bolster its ranks.

“BJP calls itself the biggest political party. It says that it has many women workers. However, during elections it starts to look around. It is shameful that you are breaking other parties. 

This is not a good practice,” the JMM leader said. Maji also took a swipe at the BJP its frequent criticisms of "dynastic politics" in regional parties like the JMM. 

Maji pointed out that the BJP has given tickets to several family members of its senior leaders for the Jharkhand polls.

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