Jharkhand: Chief Minister increases electricity subsidy to counter BJP’s Ram Mandir election issue

Jharkhand: New Chief Minister Champai Soren has decided to increase the electricity subsidy from the current 100 units to 125 units.

According to a senior JMM leader, the move is aimed at countering the BJP’s election plank after the consecration of Ayodhya Dham.

“The idea is to tap into the sentiments of people struggling with the impact of inflation and create a narrative different from the religious sentiments being stoked by the BJP after the Ayodhya Dham event. More such announcements will be made during the budget session to be held in the last week of February,” said a senior Ranchi-based JMM leader, considered close to both former chief ministers Hemant Soren and Champai Soren.

He also informed that on February 16, Governor C.P. The cabinet will be expanded after his arrival. Radhakrishnan.

Meanwhile, in a release issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday evening after a review meeting with the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary,
In the meeting of secretaries and principal secretaries of various departments in Ranchi, the Chief Minister announced to increase the electricity subsidy to 125 percent and directed the Energy Department to prepare a proposal in this regard as soon as possible.

The Chief Minister has said that electricity subsidy will be increased soon. Electricity consumers will now be given 125 units of electricity free instead of 100 units and electricity will be supplied in all deprived tolas. The Energy Department has been asked to prepare a proposal in this regard,” the release said.

Jharkhand government launched 100 units free electricity scheme in August 2022 and it aimed to reduce the financial burden of electricity consumers.

Jharkhand Assembly elections are due later this year and the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition government is understood to be planning populist welfare schemes ahead of the elections.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister took information about the budgetary
Reviewed the provisions and actual receipts and expenditure of various departments and also reviewed the schemes run by various departments and gave necessary instructions to the officers and asked them to speed up the implementation of welfare schemes.