Ranchi: The ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Monday alleged that the BJP is scared of Chief Minister Hemant Soren's popularity and hence is hatching another "conspiracy" against him.

JMM's reaction came after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) moved the Supreme Court challenging the Jharkhand High Court order granting bail to Soren in a money laundering case related to the alleged land scam.

JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey said that the High Court found that there is no concrete evidence against Soren.

He said the party suspected that the agency had approached the Supreme Court "on the instructions of the BJP".

Pandey alleged, "BJP is not able to digest that Hemant Soren has again become the Chief Minister of Jharkhand. Soren's popularity has scared them. They have started hatching a new conspiracy before the assembly elections."

Soren was released from jail on June 28 after he was granted bail by the High Court. He returned as Chief Minister on 4 July and earlier in the day he won a vote of confidence in the Assembly.

He had resigned from the post of CM shortly before his arrest by ED on January 31.

Assembly elections are to be held in Jharkhand at the end of this year.