Shibu Soren on his way to Bokaro general hospital on Thursday. Pix: Pankaj Singh

Bokaro, April 24: Ailing JMM patriarch Shibu Soren has admitted that his eldest son Durga’s sudden decision to contest elections from the Godda Lok Sabha seat against the party’s wishes embarrassed him no end.

“The JMM is not my personal property. Nor does it belong to Durga whose actions have definitely embarrassed me time and again,” Soren told The Telegraph in a series of conversations this week, before being shifted to Bokaro General Hospital from his residence at sector IC on Thursday.

“Durga’s decision to contest from Godda put me in the dock, forcing me to announce that our party supported the sitting MP and Congress candidate, Furkan Ansari.”

Looking frail and finding it difficult to talk, Soren said Durga wanted to “avenge” his defeat in the Tamar byelection which cost him the chief minister’s chair. “But, he doesn’t understand that JMM isn’t his pocket organisation and his actions have put me in a disadvantageous position.”

About widespread speculation on his health and the future the party he founded, Soren sounded depressed, but spoke grandly about Gandhiji and how concern about his health had led citizen’s to fear the worst for the country.

“People thought that after Gandhiji’s death, the country would enter an age of uncertainty. But, even after his death, the country prospered and progressed,” he said.

It was same situation for Jharkhand. “How many more years am I going to survive? But I am sure that if I die today there will be many to strengthen the JMM on democratic lines.”

Asked about the confusion within the electorate over his long absence and Durga’s rebellious moves, Soren said he was sure his supporters understood that he was ill today, after years of struggle for their welfare.

“I now ask them for my guru-dakshina. I have faith that they will have definitely obliged their Guruji by casting their votes in favour of UPA candidates,” Soren said.

BGH doctors Satish and Vibhuti, who were tending to Soren, said his condition was stable. But family sources said he would be flown out to New Delhi this evening.