Hemant Soren clamps down on BJP's 'Gogo Didi' drive

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday clamped down on the BJP for filling forms to enlist beneficiaries for the to-be-launched 'Gogo Didi' scheme ahead of the state elections. Soren ordered the deputy commissioners of all districts to act against anyone flouting the rules as prescribed by the Election Commission.

The BJP has announced the launch of the Gogo Didi Scheme once it comes to power in the state. Under the scheme, all the women above 18 years would be given Rs 2,100 per month. The party has started a form-filling drive where workers are taking details of probable beneficiaries of the scheme along with their mobile number and other details. It has set a target of filling 100 forms per booth.

The ruling JMM termed it as violation of EC's directive issued on May 2, 2024. In the press note, the EC had directed political parties to cease enrolling/registering of voters for post-election beneficiary-oriented schemes under the guise of surveys.


"Announcing a scheme is fine. But how can you get forms filled in the name of the party? You are not in government and you can only do that once you are in government," Supriyo Bhattacharya, JMM general secretary, told ET. "BJP is committing fraud against the people of the state. We requested the chief minister to take cognizance of it."

After JMM raised the issue, Soren quickly ordered all the DCs to act against any such flouting of rules.