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JMM splits vertically, Soren 'expelled'

The split in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was formalised yesterday when a section of the party, owing allegiance to suspended vice-president Suraj Mandal, expelled Morcha chief Shibu Soren and elected Ram Dayal Munda to the post.

The supporters of Mandal, claiming a majority in the central committee, said they were the ''real JMM.'' The expulsion of Soren was likely to deepen the crisis in the Morcha and could lead to the expulsion of Mandal and his supporters from the JMM by its president Shibu Soren.

With the month-long crisis in the JMM formalising into a vertical split it remains to be seen which faction -- the one led by Mandal or the other under the leadership of Soren -- would be officially recognised as the JMM by the Election Commission and be allowed to use the party symbol of bow and arrow.

According to a senior leader in the Morcha the final decision on who gets the bow and arrow symbol would actually determine the support of the party legislators who have maintained silence so far.

UNI

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