The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) central convention concluded on Saturday, electing former Chief Minister Hemant Soren as the executive president of the party. This was the first instance when a post of executive president was created in the JMM’s four-decade long history by bringing an amendment to the party constitution. About 4,000 delegates from Jharkhand, Odisha, Bengal, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar participated in the three-day convention held at Gopal Maidan, Bistupur.
Emotions ran high as the name of junior Soren was announced at the convention. Tears rolled down his eyes as his name was announced. He took blessings from Shibu Soren and said he will work hard to fulfill the party’s mission in Jharkhand. The party also announced Shibu Soren as the president. Soren also criticised the three-month rule of Raghubar Das-led State Government and said the CM is only making announcements and working on dictates from the Union Government. With an aim to regain its lost sheen in the Kolhan division, due to rising differences between leaders and workers, the JMM used this forum to mobilise workers and voters with a ‘show of strength’. The party has resolved to get close to the cadres and also to the masses.
Issues such as prevailing political scenario of the country and state were deliberated upon, among others. Also, the party demanded that Odisha and West Bengal must constitute Autonomous Development Council (ADC) comprising these tribal-dominated districts as per constitutional process to merge into Jharkhand. The party has demanded that Purulia, Bankura and Midnapore districts of West Bengal, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Sundergarh and Sambalpur districts of Odisha to be included in Greater Jharkhand.