Bhubaneswar: In a setback to the state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prior to ensuing panchayat elections, the party’s senior leader and former deputy speaker of state Assembly Ramachandra Panda Thursday joined the ruling BJD.
Panda along with his supporters met BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence Naveen Niwas before his formal induction into the party.
Patnaik said, “I am delighted that BJP leader Ramachandra Panda has joined the BJD. We welcome him as he will prove to be a tremendous asset to the party.”
Panda said, “I felt uncomfortable in the party (BJP) as the persons who were involved in anti-party activities during election have now been given the leadership charges.”
He further said he was inclined towards the ruling BJD because of the strong leadership and the progressive vision of the chief minister.
BJP leaders, however, rubbished the allegations of Panda and said that there would be no impact on the party and they will give a tough fight to their rivals in the coming polls.
BJD vice-president and spokesperson Surya Narayan Patro, higher education minister Pradeep Panigrahi also attended the joining programme.
Patro said Panda’s joining in BJD will help the party during the panchayat polls in Ganjam area.
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