RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Dec.18: Rajya Sabha MP Shibu Soren consolidated his position as JMM president for the 10th consecutive time while his son and chief minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren continued to be the executive president of the party for the second consecutive time.
The development took place after 12th triennial convention of the regional party with its cadres, in Bihar, West Bengal and Odisha besides Jharkhand concluded in the evening the decision taken there became public.
Earlier, addressing the party workers in the convention, Hemant Soren expressed the JMM’s commitment to continue its struggle for the development of the poor and downtrodden, tribal, mulnivasi and backward. He said forming a government in the state is not the destination of the party but a stoppage.
He said during the last 21 years of formation of the state, whoever remained in power for more time did not show any sensitivity towards the state and did nothing for the development of common people.
According to sources in the party, the decisions taken in the party convention include reducing the number of vice presidents to 11 from 15, reducing the post of general secretaries to 9 from 12, and reducing the number of central committee members to 351 to 451.
It was also decided in the convention that in each district post of office secretary will be created.
During the convention concern was expressed over the loot of tribal land, displacement, migration. Party workers while expressing their concern over the poor development of the state underlined the importance of strengthening the rural and agricultural economy. The convention also stressed upon the need of returning unused land given for mining and industrial purposes to its original owners.
In the morning when the convention started Sita Soren was conspicuous by her absence but when she turned up at the convention venue, Sohrai Bhawan, at 1.10 pm all speculation about her absence stopped.
The JMM was constituted at the golf ground in Dhanbad on November 15, 1972 but took its formal shape on February 4, 1973. Vinod Bihari Mahto was selected as its first president while Shibu Soren was selected general secretary.
