Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and former chief minister, Shibu Soren, 75, is contesting Lok Sabha elections from Dumka that will go to the polls on May 19. He spoke to Gautam Mazumdar about the national polls, his political future and the prospects of the grand opposition alliance in Jharkhand. Edited excerpts:
There were pushes and pulls in the alliance formation, which is natural. But all parties in the coalition are serious. All parties and leaders have put in their best efforts. I am not into any number game. Hopefully, we will do fairly well in the Lok Sabha election and set the stage for the assembly polls [due in December].
I cannot say. [They] must be doing the mathematics. A party cannot think big for long on borrowed leadership and depending on outsiders anywhere.
{{/usCountry}}I cannot say. [They] must be doing the mathematics. A party cannot think big for long on borrowed leadership and depending on outsiders anywhere.
{{/usCountry}}There is no harm in adding to our strength for a stable and strong government at the Centre.
A leader is elected after the election. That is the democratic process. After elections, leaders of the opposition parties will elect a leader if they are in a position to form a government.
What is the Modi wave? I do not know. I cannot feel it in Jharkhand. People do politics for the people in their respective areas. [RJD leader] Lalu [Prasad] became a mass leader of Bihar doing politics for the poor and downtrodden. Modi did it in his state [Gujarat] and I am doing it in Jharkhand.
Only time will tell. But I am not bidding adieu right now.
He is a kid, contesting for some time. But I will win.
There are several families in the country, where the father and son are doing a great job for society. I am hardly bothered about such allegations.
I do not have any strategy, though my party men might be having one. I fight elections in an old fashioned way by meeting people, knowing their problems and then trying solving them. No tall claims or assurances...