“Whenever they try to silence us, the revolution grows louder…”: Hemant Soren Takes a Swipe at BJP Ahead of Swearing-in Ceremony, Vows to Uphold Legacy of Jharkhand

Hours before his swearing-in as the 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Thursday, took a direct swipe at the BJP-led NDA alliance. "Whenever they try to silence us, the revolution grows louder," he declared, expressing his defiance against any attempts to suppress the voices of the people of Jharkhand. Soren highlighted the power of unity of the people, emphasizing, "The people of Jharkhand can neither be divided nor silenced," reinforcing that the state's strength lies in the solidarity of its people.

Taking to social media platform “X”, Hemant Soren described the day as “historic.” “Let there be no doubt about it - our unity is our biggest weapon. We can neither be divided nor silenced. Whenever they push us back, we move forward,” he wrote. He added that the day would help further strengthen the collective struggle of Jharkhand’s people, as well as the spirit of unity, love, and brotherhood.

Soren also referred to the legacy of the state's revolutionaries, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. “Jharkhand has always been a land of protests and struggles, and we, as the JMM, are moving ahead carrying the legacy of heroes like Bhagwan Birsa Munda and Phulo-Jhano,” he said.

As he prepared for the ceremonial oath, Soren appeared to take a dig at the BJP-led NDA, suggesting that their defeat was a direct result of their attempts to stifle Jharkhand’s voice. "Whenever they try to silence us, our voice of rebellion and revolution grows louder because we are Jharkhandis, and Jharkhandis do not bow down," he asserted.

The 49 year old also took the opportunity to celebrate the triumph of "Abua government" (self-governance) in Jharkhand. "Today is not about political victory; it is a day to reiterate our commitment to social justice and unity. The great people of Jharkhand are standing together despite the increasing pressure on democracy," he said, signing off as “your Hemant.”

The swearing-in ceremony, which will take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, is expected to be a grand affair, attended by numerous top political leaders. Some of the key figures who are likely to join the event include Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and other prominent figures from across the political spectrum. Soren himself described the participation of these leaders as “heartening.”

Soren’s victory in the state assembly elections secured him a strong mandate, with his JMM-led alliance winning 56 of the 81 seats. He himself retained the Barhait constituency, defeating BJP's Gamliyel Hembrom by a margin of nearly 40,000 votes. The BJP-led NDA, in contrast, managed to secure only 24 seats.
​