Bhubaneswar: A number of leaders and workers of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) of Mayurbhanj district joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday.
They all joined the ruling party after meeting BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas here in the presence of sports and youth affairs minister Sudam Marandi, Morada MLA Pravin Kumar Bhanjadeo and Udala MLA Golak Nayak.
Among the members and leaders of JMM who joined the ruling party today were JMM candidate from Morada Assembly in the last elections Manoranjan Dhal, Udala Assembly constituency candidate Thumpu Murmu, Udala sub-division JMM vice-president Sunuram Bindhani, GB Nagar block vice-president Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra and advisor Chandra Mohan Tudu.
Speaking on JMM members joining BJD, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, “JMM MLA candidate Manoranjan Dhal, Udala constituency candidate Thumpu Murmu, JMM vice-president Sunuram Bindhani, GB Nagar block vice-president Chitta Ranjan Mohapatra and advisor Chandra Mohan Tudu and their followers have joined Biju Janata Dal.”