'Give books, not bouquets': Hemant Soren’s unique appeal after landslide victory in Jharkhand polls

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren expressed gratitude to his supporters while urging them to gift books instead of flower bouquets during congratulatory meetings. Soren took to social media platform X to share his appreciation, writing, “My heartfelt thanks to everyone for the good wishes I am receiving from across the country. Like 2019, I would again request everyone that if you are coming to meet me, then instead of a 'bouquet,' give me a 'book.'"He added, “While I was in jail, I got a lot of time to read the books that you all gifted me. Thank you to everyone for this.”The JMM-led alliance secured a second consecutive term in Jharkhand, winning 56 out of 81 assembly seats.The JMM itself won 34 seats, while its allies, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), secured 16 and four seats respectively. The BJP-led NDA struggled to gain traction, winning only 24 seats. The BJP bagged 21 of these, with its allies—All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and Janata Dal (United)—winning one seat each.Soren is set to take the oath as Jharkhand's chief minister on November 28, continuing in an acting capacity until then.