JMM to fight Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha, 30 assembly seats in Odisha

BARIPADA: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) will field candidates in Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat and 30 assembly segments in Odisha for the general elections as well state poll due next year, a senior party leader said on Monday.nnThis was decided in central committee meeting of JMM held at Ranchi on Monday, party’s central committee member and former MLA, Ajen Murmu told PTI.nnJMM would put up candidates for seven out of the nine assembly constituencies in Mayurbhanj bordering with Jharkhand, he said.nnJMM candidates would also contest the assembly polls from different constituencies in Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Balasore, Jajpur and Phulbani districts in the state, Murmu said.nnJharkhand Mukti Morcha had in the past also fought Lok Sabha and state elections in Odisha and had even won some assembly seats.nnMurmu said JMM would endeavour to safeguard the interest of the tribal people in the state and to ensure balanced development.nnMurmu’s statement regarding next year’s elections came a day after former MP from Mayurbhanj Laxman Tudu on Sunday joined JMM in Ranchi after resigning from the ruling BJD.nnTudu, who was Lok Sabha member from Mayurbhanj from 2009 to 2014, had said that he quit BJD as he felt that the party, named after Biju Patnaik, had deviated from the ideals of the legendary leader.nnSource: Press Trust of India