I fought for J'khand, let me rule: Soren

GIRIDIH: JMM President Shibu Soren today hit out at his political adversaries for not "allowing" him to rule Jharkhand, a state he claimed was created after 40 years of struggle by him.

"The creation of Jharkhand was the result of my fighting for it over 40 years. But, I was not allowed to put the state on the speedy path of development," he said during a poll meeting for the second phase elections for December 2.

Soren, who twice ruled the state for a combined total of 138 days, blamed his political detractors for not allowing him to shape the future of the state.

He requested voters to give JMM a full-term to enable "us to change the fate of Jharkhand."

Soren, who had to quit as chief minister after he lost an assembly bypoll in January, vowed to protect 'jal, jungle and jameen' (water, forest and land) and provide employment to the youth.

The JMM was the second largest party with 17 MLAs after the BJP in the 2005 assembly elections.

As in 2005, Soren, a Lok Sabha member, is not in the fray.