Bhubaneswar: Former Principal Accountant General (PAG) Amar Patnaik Wednesday formally joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
The former bureaucrat joined the regional party in the presence of the chief minister at the latter’s residence here.
Immediately after his joining, Amar Patnaik was appointed as the head of the BJD’s IT cell.
“Patnaik has a very rich experience on working in many states. His joining the BJD will certainly strengthen the party. I welcome him. He will be the head of the IT wing of the party,” said the chief minister.
“I have a belief that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the only person under whose leadership Odisha can become the No. 1 state. I was also inspired by Biju Patnaik. All these factors drove me to join the party. More importantly, it is my commitment to work for the betterment of the state,” Amar Patnaik told reporters.
Though Amar Patnaik was having his family members close to Congress, he chose to join the ruling party.
Minister and senior BJD leader SN Patro, present at the joining ceremony, said Amar Patnaik will be an asset to the party.
Amar is not the first bureaucrat to join the BJD. Earlier, former IPS officer Arup Patnaik joined BJD and now he is chief of Biju Yuva Vahini.
Former director general of All India Radio (News) Giridhari Mohanty had also joined the BJD and was appointed as the party’s national spokesperson.