A sea of supporters carrying green flags with pictures of Dishom Guru Shibu Soren and raising slogans in glory of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) thronged the Gandhi Maidan in Dumka on Sunday as the pro-tribal party turned 41. The celebrations came hardly a month after a thunderous and rather unexpected victory of the party in the Assembly elections here.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who also happened to be the Executive president of JMM began the celebrations of Foundation Day by garlanding the statue of tribal heroes Sidhu and Kanhu. JMM Yuva Morcha Chief and Hemant’s younger brother, Basant Soren, MP Rajmahal, Vijay Hansda, Littipara MLA, Dinesh Williyam Marandi and other party leaders came to Dumka from various part of the State for the celebrations on Sunday.
There was a historical participation of common people and overwhelming enthusiasm among the party workers during the programme. The huge crowd braved heavy cold in the evening to hear the voice of their leaders. A memorial letter was also issued by the party on the occasion. Almost all party Ministers in the Soren Government and all MLAs were present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister led the processions on Sunday. After garlanding statue of Sidhu-Kanhu, he garlanded the Statue of Tilka Manjhi and paid homage at Municipality Chowk of Dumka.
The procession culminated in to public meeting and social gathering at Gandhi Maidan in Dumka where almost all senior leaders of the party gathered to celebrate the Establishment Day.
Heading the procession, Soren talked to media. He said that the day was historic and the huge gathering of people was indeed overwhelming. “I will try to fulfill hope and aspiration of every person of the State as after a long struggle they got their own Government,” he said, adding that since a very long time the emotions and aspiration of the people have been ‘crushed’ by a former Government.
The atmosphere was festive and every person of the crowed was cheering for the CM.
The supporters beat drums and danced to the tunes of Santhali songs as the CM marched through the sea of supporters oozing with energy and zeal.
The Chief Minister further said that the Government will work for the integrated development of the State where people from every section of the society will get benefits.
On December 29, Hemant Soren took oath as Chief Minister of the State. The party contested the State Assembly election under coalition with Indian National Congress (INC) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). JMM contested on 43 seats, INC on 30 and RJD contested on 7 seats out of total 81 seats. JMM won at 30 seats, INC at 16 seats and RJD won one seats.
JMM was founded by Binod Bihary Maht on February 2, 1973. The party was officially created on the birthday of Birsa Munda, the 19th century tribal warrior of Jharkhand, who fought against the British rule in present-day Jharkhand. The State of Jharkhand also came into existence on Birsa Munda’s birthday in 2000.
On 4 February 1973 Binod Bihari Mahto became the President and Shibu Soren General Secretary of the party. The prominent party leaders at that time were: Comrade former Dhanbad MP Late AK Roy, Martyr Nirmal Mahto and Teklal Mahto among others. The party celebrates its Establishment Day every year in Dumka.