AJSU Party now BJP's 'B' team: Hemant Soren

HAZARIBAGH (JHARKHAND): Chief Minister Hemant Soren today accused AJSU President and former Deputy Chief Minister, Sudesh Mahto, of ditching the party's dedicated workers by forging an alliance with the BJP for the Assembly elections.

"AJSU has become BJP's 'B' team. Sudesh Mahto is an opportunist who ditched his dedicated workers though they nursed their constituencies expecting tickets (from AJSU)," Soren said at a public meeting at Barhi in the district.

He welcomed disgruntled AJSU leader Sabi Devi and her supporters into JMM during the meeting and announced her candidature from Barhi.

Devi is the widow of AJSU leader Tileshwar Sahu who was gunned down by suspected ultras of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) some months ago.

Soren also took a dig at BJP leaders who had announced that the era of coalitions in Jharkhand would end in 2014 Assembly elections. But sensing that the Narendra Modi wave has waned in Jharkhand, he said, the BJP struck alliance with the All Jharkhand Students Union.

The AJSU has eight seats with the BJP as per seat sharing understanding.

AJSU's Hatia MLA Naveen Jaiswal had resigned from the party and joined the Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha.