JMM silent on Sita, but backs decision to expel her loyalists

Ranchi: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s central leadership might ask its Jama legislator Sita Soren to explain her recent anti-party statements on Twitter, party sources here hinted on Sunday evening.
“Being the party’s general secretary, she could have placed her concerns before the party president (Shibu Soren) and working president (Hemant Soren) through proper channels. But her statements on social media have dampened the image of the party. It is an irresponsible act and an act of indiscipline on her part,” a senior party leader on Sunday said preferring anonymity.
Sita, the widow of Shibu’s deceased elder son Durga Soren, had last week posted a series of tweets on her verified account and alleged that JMM has been held at ransom by a group of touts and dishonest people and had urged Shibu’s intervention. Her tweets came hours after JMM expelled 12 of its office-bearers - all of whom are loyalists of Sita - in Chatra district for six years after finding them involved in anti-party activities (raising slogans against state youth affairs minister Hafizul Hassan on September 23).
Vinod Kumar Pandey, JMM general secretary and party’s spokesperson, however, backed the decision to expel 12 members from its Chatra unit. “The decision was taken at the directives of the party president based on the complaints of minister Hafizul Hassan, a report submitted by the Chatra district’s JMM president, Kumar Prajapati, and reports and audio-visual clippings which were published and aired in newspapers and electronic media. The party’s stand, as mandated by our president, is very clear on acts of indiscipline, irrespective of the person and his or her post within the party.”
When asked whether Sita will be asked to explain her stand, Pandey said: “It is for the party president and the working president to decide.” Sita did not respond to TOI’s calls when contacted.