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Bhubaneswar: In a dramatic move, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Odisha president on Saturday evening joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) at chief minister Naveen Patnaik's residence here.
Five senior leaders of JMM also joined BJD along with Marandi.
"I am delighted that Sudam Marandi, who is the state president of JMM, his party's Mayurbhanj district president Bhadab Hansda and legal advisor Sunil Das have joined BJD," Patnaik told reporters.
"This will be tremendous help not only in Mayurbhanj and Sundargrh districts, but the entire state," the BJD supremo said.
Meanwhile, Marandi told media persons at Naveen Niwas he was not interested for a post or party ticket.
This development came barely hours after the announcement of BJD vice-president Kalpataru Das that talks on seat sharing between BJD and JMM for the Odisha Assembly elections have failed as the latter was demanding more seats.
"There will be no seat adjustment with JMM though we had announced for it. Now, BJD will field candidates in all the 147 Assembly segments," Das said earlier in the day.
