Ranchi, Feb. 15 -- Veteran Dalit leader and former state minister Dulal Bhuiyan officially broke ties with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Sunday to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a ceremony at the party headquarters in Ranchi.

State BJP president and MP Aditya Sahu, along with former chief minister and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, welcomed Bhuiyan by presenting him with a traditional turban and garland.

Along with Bhuiyan, the state and central leadership of the Bhuiyan community, including Dilip Bhuiyan and Nunu Lal Bhuiyan, took BJP membership. Hundreds of supporters from various districts also joined the saffron party's rank and file.

"The BJP is not a party of family but of ideology. Its pledge is Antyod...