Bhubaneswar: In an apparent attempt to reach out the tribals in the State in the run-up to 2019 polls, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today formed the BJD Scheduled Tribes (ST) Front.

The BJD Chief appointed former Minister and Bangiriposi MLA Sudam Marandi as the convenor while Lanjigarh MLA Balabhadra Majhi and Koraput MP Jhina Hikaka are the vice-presidents of the Front, said BJD State Secretary, Bijay Nayak, in a press release.

Besides, Umerkote MLA Subash Gond, Bisam Katak MLA Jagannath Saraka, Chitrakonda MLA Dambaru Sisa, Baliguda MLA Rajib Patra, former Telkoi MLA Premananda Naik and senior ST leader of Sundargarh Emma Ekka have been nominated as general secretaries.