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JMM-Soren expels Suraj Mandal

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Soren has formally expelled its suspended vice-president Suraj Mandal along with 14 other party leaders who had rebelled against Morcha chief Shibu Soren.

Prominent among those expelled at its central committee meeting last night were Ramdayal Munda, Kumar Brun, Bahadur Singh, Aftab Jamil, Mahendra Kachhap, Ramesh Gope, Sarjit Mirdha and Jibra Oraon.

JMM vice-president Suraj Mandal, who was suspended for six years from the party by Soren last month, had during his suspension called the Morcha's central committee meeting claiming the support of 113 members. In that meeting Soren was expelled by Mandal and his supporters. Ram Dayal Munda was elected the party's new president in that meeting.

After 'unceremoniously' removing Soren from the party presidentship, Mandal's supporters also approached the Election Commission staking claim to the Morcha's election symbol, the 'bow and arrow'.

The final decision to expel Mandal was taken by the JMM-S late last night when a proposal in this regard was moved by Morcha leader Shailendra Bhattacharya, party's central spokesman Rajendra Mehta said this morning.

Prominent among the party leaders and legislators who attended yesterday's central committee meeting were Stephen Marandi, Prashant Kumar, Champai Soren, Bernard Minj, Surga Soren, former MP Simon Marandi, party leaders Sudhir Mahato, Devsharan Bhagat and Rajendra Mehta.

Mehta claimed that 120 central committee members were present at yesterday's meeting.

He said it was also resolved to seek affidavits from party members with which the Morcha would approach the Election Commission for securing the 'bow and arrow' as its recognised symbol.

The Morcha-S also pledged to renew its movement for a separate state ''as the parties in power are conspiring to delay its creation''.

UNI

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