Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) is a political party based in the Indian state of Jharkhand, founded by Binod Bihari Mahato. Shibu Soren currently serves as the party’s president. The JMM also has a notable presence in Odisha and neighboring states. Its election symbol in Jharkhand is the Bow and Arrow.
The party was officially established on the birthday of Birsa Munda, a prominent 19th-century tribal leader who resisted British colonial rule in the region now known as Jharkhand. Notably, the state of Jharkhand itself was formed on the same date in 2000, honoring Birsa Munda’s legacy.
The Jharkhand Yuva Morcha (Jharkhand Youth Front) and Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (Jharkhand Student Front) are the youth and student wings of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Both organizations were established during a conference held in Ranchi on October 16, 1991.
Chief Ministers of Jharkhand:
The Chief Ministers of Jharkhand have included Shibu Soren, who served from March 2, 2005, to March 12, 2005, during the 2nd Assembly, and again from August 27, 2008, to January 19, 2009, and from December 30, 2009, to June 1, 2010, in the 3rd Assembly, representing Jamtara. Hemant Soren first served from July 13, 2013, to December 28, 2014, during the 5th Assembly, representing Dumka. He was later re-elected and served from December 29, 2019, to February 2, 2024, in the same assembly, representing Barhait. Champai Soren then took office on February 2, 2024, and served until July 3, 2024, representing Seraikella. Following him, Hemant Soren resumed office on July 4, 2024, and remains the incumbent, continuing to represent Barhait in the 5th Assembly
Deputy Chief Ministers of Jharkhand:
Sudhir Mahato, representing Silli, served as Deputy Chief Minister from September 14, 2006, to August 23, 2008, during the 2nd Assembly (2005 election) under Chief Minister Madhu Koda. Hemant Soren, representing Dumka, held the position from September 11, 2010, to January 18, 2013, serving for 2 years and 129 days during the 3rd Assembly (2009 election) under Chief Minister Arjun Munda.
Establishment:
The movement to create a separate Jharkhand state from Bihar had been ongoing for nearly sixty years before it gained significant traction. The Jharkhand Party, a key player in this movement, had substantial political influence, holding between 23 and 32 seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly before 1962. In that year, the party won 20 seats. However, in 1963, Jaipal Singh Munda, a prominent leader of the Jharkhand Party, merged it with the Indian National Congress and became a minister in Vinodanand Jha’s Bihar government. Despite this, many party members chose not to join the Congress.
The party’s fortunes declined sharply in the 1967 general election, where it only secured eight Assembly seats. This led to fragmentation, with several splinter groups claiming to be the true Jharkhand Party. Notable among these were the Jharkhand Party led by N. E. Horo, another Jharkhand Party led by Naren, the All India Jharkhand Party led by Bagun Sumroi, and the Hul Jharkhand Party led by Justin Richard. The latter eventually splintered further into the Bihar Progressive Hul Jharkhand Party, led by Shibu Soren.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) was founded by Shibu Soren, Binod Bihari Mahato, and A. K. Roy of the Marxist Co-ordination Committee. Officially established on the birthday of Birsa Munda, a 19th-century tribal leader who fought against British rule in the region, the JMM aimed to continue the struggle for Jharkhand’s autonomy. On February 4, 1973, Binod Bihari Mahato was appointed president of the JMM, with Shibu Soren serving as its general secretary. Other notable leaders at that time included A. K. Roy, Nirmal Mahto, and Tek Lal Mahto.
Earlier:
In its formative years, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) under Shibu Soren’s leadership successfully mobilized industrial and mining workers, primarily non-tribals from Dalit and backward communities such as Surdis, Doms, Dusadh, Kurmi, Koiri, Gowala, and Teli. Soren’s association with the late politician Gyanranjan and his close ties with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi helped him secure the Dumka Lok Sabha seat in 1972. However, his affiliation with the Indian National Congress led to discontent among some younger JMM members. This discontent resulted in the formation of the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) in Jamshedpur, which aimed to challenge the JMM’s dominance. Despite this, the JMM continued to grow and won six seats in the 1991 Indian general election.
The movement for Jharkhand’s autonomy was reinvigorated by Ram Dayal Munda, who worked to unify various splinter groups among the tribal communities. Under his leadership, the Jharkhand Coordination Committee (JCC) was formed in June 1987, bringing together 48 organizations, including factions of the JMM. Although there was a brief period of collaboration among Shibu Soren, Suraj Mandal, Simon Marandi, Shailendra Mahato, and AJSU leaders like Surya Singh Besra and Prabhakar Tirkey, the JMM eventually withdrew from the JCC, criticizing the collective leadership as ineffective. During 1988 and 1989, the JMM, AJSU, and the Jharkhand Party (JPP) organized economic blockades and strikes, known as “bandhs,” to press their demands.