In a letter to the Election Commission of India, the Jharkhand government has accused Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of having a “propensity to foment hatred among communities” and of threatening top state bureaucrats. The Indian Express has learned that Sarma and Chouhan, who are the BJP’s election in-charge for Jharkhand, have been making frequent visits to the state in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections.

In the letter dated September 2, the Jharkhand government criticized Sarma for making “false statements” and questioned if such remarks could be seen as character assassination of the state’s officials, including high-ranking bureaucrats. The letter also raised concerns about the BJP’s appointment of election in-charges in a state where election dates have not yet been set.

EC sources noted that action could not be taken as the model code of conduct is not yet in effect. The Jharkhand government has called for the “strongest possible” measures against Sarma and Chouhan, alleging that their actions amount to “mud-slinging” and interference in Jharkhand’s internal affairs.

Principal Secretary Vandana Dadel, who signed the letter, noted that despite the absence of the Model Code of Conduct, Sarma and Chouhan have been visiting Jharkhand weekly since their appointment on June 17. This frequent presence has required extensive security measures for the officials.

The letter highlighted that during their visits, Sarma and Chouhan have made provocative statements and leveled serious accusations against Jharkhand’s administration, including top officers like the DGP and SSPs. These statements, according to the letter, have the potential to incite communal hatred and undermine the morale of government personnel.

The Jharkhand government also attached screenshots of social media posts by Sarma, Chouhan, and other BJP leaders, accusing them of attempting to “create communal tension.”

The letter warned that these activities might be part of a planned scheme to discredit state officials and manipulate reports against them once the Model Code of Conduct is in place. It suggested that this could be an effort to intimidate Jharkhand’s administration and police, potentially to influence them during the elections.

The letter also referenced past instances where officials were removed or debarred from election duty based on alleged frivolous complaints, calling for impartiality from the ECI in handling complaints against Jharkhand’s bureaucrats.

It concluded by urging the ECI to advise Sarma and Chouhan against misusing their positions and state resources for political purposes.