India, April 15 -- Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, 49, was appointed national president of the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Tuesday after former chief minister Shibu Soren, 81, stepped down from the post to make space for his son.

Shibu Soren, who has been JMM's national president since 1987, made the announcement at the party's two-day national convention in Ranchi on Tuesday. He has been appointed as the party's founder patron.

"The proposal of Guruji (Shibu Soren) being made the party's founder patron was proposed by senior party leader and Dumka MP Nalin Soren, which was seconded by senior legislator Stephen Marandi. Then Guruji announced the appointment of Hemant ji as the new national president of the party, who w...