JMM splits with ouster of Mandal

RANCHI, DEC 6: With the ouster of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha vice-president Suraj Mandal for six years from the party, the Morcha formally split today with Mandal and his supporters claiming that they represent the real JMM.

Claiming a majority support in the Morcha’s central committee, Mandal convinced a meeting of the party here on December 11. Describing Sunday’s announcement of his expulsion from the party at Dhanbad by Morcha president Shibu Soren as undemocratic and violation of the party’s constitution, he said being an elected vice-president his ouster could be decided only by the central committee.

Mandal termed his expulsion as a conspiracy hatched by forces opposed to Jharkhand to sideline him as he had been pleading for the state’s creation. He even charged Soren with playing into the hands of the “communal” BJP. To substantiate his stand, Mandal said Soren had fielded a `weak’ candidate like his wife Rupi Soren from the Dumka Parliamentary constituency to ensure the victory of BJP’s Babu lalMarandi.