Four Councillors, Ashok Naik (Ward-9), Tandra Saha (Ward-5), Berga Munda (Ward-13) and Nrupati Naik (Ward-8), of Joda Municipality in Keonjhar district joined hands with Sanatan Mahkud, Independent MlA of Champua, on Wednesday. Sources said Congress and BJD have seven Councillors each in the 14-member civic body.
During the last Assembly elections, three from the Congress and two from the BJD had extended their supports to BJD dissident candidate Kusha Apat. But Chairman Manjula Patra (BJD), Vice Chairman Surendra Nath Jena and three others gave their support to Sanatan Mahakud. With this, 11 Councillors are now with Sanatan Mahakud and the rest four are with Kusha Apat.