JMM kicks off new era with Hemant Soren as central president, Shibu Soren named ‘founding patron’

“The responsibility that respected Baba Dishom Guruji (Shibu Soren) has given me, the faith that lakhs of party colleagues have shown in me, I will work hard day and night to fulfil it. This support of all of you is my strength,” the CM, who was JMM’s executive president till now, posted on X.

Addressing his party colleagues at the end of the two-day convention, the JMM central president said, “The party would decide its future journey from this point. We will move towards a long road after the end of this convention … I am preparing a roadmap so that we can take the ideals of the party to greater heights. The JMM is not a party but a reflection of the thoughts of the people of Jharkhand.”

On his father’s legacy as the leader of the party, Hemant said, “Despite limited resources, he took the pledge to protect the people and ‘Jal Jungle, Jamin (water, forest and land)’ of Jharkhand, which is not an ordinary feat. The entire country knows him as Guruji.”

These are the positions on important issues that the party articulated in the last two days:

Opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act

The JMM strongly opposed the amended Waqf law, saying it infringes upon the rights of minorities and violates the federal structure of the Constitution. The Jharkhand government, along with other states, has committed not to implement the amended Act, the party said.

JMM leaders argued land was a state subject and the Centre’s move violated constitutional norms. “India is run by the Constitution and the JMM firmly upholds it. Protecting the constitutional rights of minorities is not appeasement, it’s justice. We believe in equality, dignity, and justice, and we stand with all castes and communities,” said party spokesperson Tanuj Khatri.

Domicile Bill

Another prominent issue was the 1932 khatiyan (survey)-based Domicile Bill that the JMM described as the symbol of Jharkhandi identity. The Bill aims to identify original citizens of the state and ensure fair access to jobs and resources.

Although the Assembly passed the Bill in November 2022, then Governor Ramesh Bais returned the Bill citing possible violations of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. Though the government passed the Bill again in December 2023, its implementation remains on hold pending central approval and inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution to shield it from judicial review.

JMM leaders demanded that the Bill be included in the Ninth Schedule. “This is a core demand of the people of Jharkhand,” Khatri said, accusing the BJP of deliberately blocking the operationalisation of the law.

Expansion beyond Jharkhand

The party also announced plans to expand to Assam, Odisha, and West Bengal, and work towards gaining national party status. The party said it would focus on mobilising migrant Jharkhandis to contest elections in these states.

Asked if being a Jharkhand-based party would hinder its expansion plans, Khatri said, “We have proven before that our identity is our strength. We will definitely win seats with the power of Jharkhandi pride and aim to build a ‘Vrihad Jharkhand’.”

While the JMM currently holds no seats outside Jharkhand, Khatri referred to the example of Hemant Soren’s sister Anjali, an active party member who was earlier an MLA in Odisha.

Opposition to delimitation

The JMM also voiced strong opposition to delimitation, which is set to be held after the next Census. The party believes it will weaken tribal political representation. JMM leaders said in the past, several Adivasi MPs had failed to raise identity-related issues, including the long-standing demand for the Sarna Code that is a separate religious identity for tribal communities.

The JMM believes that the declining Adivasi population figures, combined with the Centre’s lack of transparency, are part of a deliberate strategy to reduce tribal representation. “The Centre’s intentions are clear: diluting tribal identity and reducing the number of tribal seats. JMM stands firmly against it,” Khatri said.