As anticipated, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Odisha unit president Sudam Marandi quit his party and joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) barely hours after talks between his party and the ruling party broke down reportedly over differences on seat sharing.
Sudam with Naveen Patnaik after joining BJD
BJD sources said he could be fielded as the party candidate from the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat, which he has represented in the past.
Marandi arrived at Naveen Niwas, the residence of BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik, in the evening where he announced his joining the BJD.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the party will get stronger in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh following Marandi’s entry into BJD.
The JMM leader, who joined the party, repeated the same old line that his predecessors from other parties have said : .
“I have not joined the party aspiring for a ticket or any post. However, I will contest elections if the party president so desires. It’s entirely up to him.”
Earlier in the day, BJD vice-president Kalpataru Das had announced the breakdown of seat sharing talks between his party and the JMM.
Other sources, however, said the talks did not make headway after JMM supremo Sibu Soren said no to the idea.
Das, on the other hand, said the problem was with regard to the number of seats that JMM demanded.
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