BJD-JMM tie-up in Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh district

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik announced that the party will enter into seat sharing with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in tribal dominated Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts in the coming polls.

"BJD will have seat sharing arrangements with JMM in the forthcoming general elections. I am sure that both the parties will do very well jointly in Mayurbhanj and Sundergarh districts," Patnaik told reporters here.

The number of assembly and lok sabha seats to be made available to JMM in the two districts would be finalised shortly, BJD sources said.

On seat sharing formula, JMM's Odisha unit president Sudam Marandi, who was present during the announcement, said that preliminary discussions were being held with BJD leaders in this regard.

"Initial discussion has been held, but the number of seats to be shared between two parties is yet to be finalised. I want Naveen Patnaik to be the Chief Minister for the fourth consecutive and to continue developmental works for the tribals," Marandi said.

The announcement came a day after BJD vice-president Kalpataru Das indicated that the ruling party could enter into seat sharing with some political parties, excluding Congress and BJP, for some constituencies.

The move came as the ruling BJD was anticipating a triangular contest in some seats in the two tribal dominated districts, sources said adding the arrangement was to prevent Congress to gain at the hustings.