Ranchi, April 15
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Tuesday formally ushered in a new chapter in its history, with Hemant Soren formally taking charge of the party after being unanimously elected its new President.
The decision was announced at the 13th party convention held at the Harivansh Tana Bhagat Stadium in Ranchi's Khelgaon, attended by nearly 4,000 representatives.
Marking the end of an era, JMM patriarch Shibu Soren, fondly known as Guruji, and Hemant Soren's father, stepped down after leading the party for 38 years. He has now been designated the party's founding patron.
Hemant Soren's wife and Gandey MLA, Kalpana Soren, has been inducted as an active member of the party's Central Committee, which now comprises 289 members.
Hemant Soren, who was made JMM's Working President in 2015, assumes full leadership as the party formally abolished the post of Working President by amending its constitution.
In a symbolic moment, Shibu Soren himself proposed Hemant Soren's name for the top post, which was approved unanimously by voice vote.
Due to age and illness, Shibu Soren has remained away from the political frontline in recent years. On Monday, the first day of the convention, Hemant Soren personally brought his father to the convention venue in a wheelchair.
Though the official transition happened on Tuesday, Hemant Soren has effectively been at the helm of the party for nearly a decade.
Under his leadership, the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), comprising the JMM, the Congress, the RJD, and the CPI-ML -- won the 2019 and 2024 Assembly elections, securing power in Jharkhand.
Founded in 1972, the JMM held its first convention in Dhanbad in 1983. Shibu Soren was elected party President for the first time in 1987 and had since been re-elected unopposed, most recently for the tenth time during the 12th convention in December 2021.
After his election, Hemant Soren vowed to take the JMM legacy forward. "Guruji founded the party as a movement. Now, it is my responsibility to carry it to the national stage," he said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
A historic moment for Jharkhand politics! Hemant Soren has proven his leadership over the years and deserves this position. Wishing him all the best in taking JMM to greater heights 🙌
The emotional moment when Shibu Soren proposed his son's name got me teary-eyed 😢 Such a beautiful transition of leadership while respecting the party's legacy.
While I respect the Soren family's contributions, I hope the party will focus more on grassroots democracy rather than dynastic politics in the future. The people of Jharkhand deserve strong leadership regardless of family names.
Good to see Kalpana Soren getting more involved in party affairs! Women's representation in state politics needs to grow. Maybe we'll see her in a ministerial role soon?
The Mahagathbandhan's success under Hemant's leadership shows he has what it takes. Two election wins back-to-back is no small feat in today's political climate!
That wheelchair moment was so touching 💖 It's rare to see such personal care and respect between political leaders, even when they're family. Wishing Guruji good health!
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