Uncertainties over Hemant’s future plug brewing dissent within JMM

Ranchi: The uncertainties of the future of its working president Hemant Soren have plugged the brewing dissent among a cross-section of the ruling JMM lawmakers.
Several, including Soren’s sister-in-law Sita Soren, who were hitting the streets in protest against the coalition government’s policies or tweeted harshly over the party’s state of affairs, have now rallied behind the CM.
Sita Soren, a three-time MLA from the Jama constituency of JMM bastion Dumka had in October last year posted a series of tweets from her verified account and alleged that the party has been held at ransom by a group of touts and dishonest people and urged her father-in-law Shibu Soren to intervene. Her tweets came hours after JMM expelled 12 of its office bearers — all of whom are loyalists of Sita — in Chatra for six years after finding them involved in anti-party activities (raising slogans against state youth affairs minister Hafizul Hassan on September 23).
In April this year, Sita’s daughters — Vijayshree and Rupashree — floated a social outfit named after their father (Shibu’s eldest son Durga) and claimed that their uncle (Hemant) has surrounded himself with corrupt people.
Sita, however, buried her differences and accompanied Hemant and other female lawmakers to Latratu dam on Saturday. Sita, who largely stays away from Hemant, has also been a regular at the meetings which were held at Hemant’s Kanke Road residence since the political turmoil erupted in the state.
Another dissenting voice in JMM — Lobin Hembrom — the veteran lawmaker from Borio in Sahibganj district, had in April blasted Hemant for failing to deliver on his poll promise of bringing in a residents’ policy based on the land survey and settlement records of 1932. “Hemant is not my leader, he is the leader of the House,” Hembrom had said as he announced a statewide ‘ulgulan’ (uprising) against the coalition government. However, on Saturday, Hembrom was cosily tucked in one of the three buses which rolled out of the CM House and headed to Latratu.
Talking to TOI on Sunday, Hembrom said, “I will stand by my statement. I consider Guru ji (Shibu) my leader. My movement against the government has not ended. Given the current political crisis, it is important for us to stay together and rally firmly behind Hemant babu. Once this phase is over, I will hold a public meeting to press for the residents’ policy on September 11.” He added, “Agar sarkar he nahi bachega toh andolan kiske khilaf karenge?(If there is no government, where will my protest target?” he said.