Bhadrak MP Arujn Charan Sethi, former Jajpur MP Mohan Jena and former MLAs Madhusudan Panigrahi and Prafulla Kumar Jena along with their supporters joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan here on Saturday.
Other leaders like Pratap Dhal of Bhadrak, Siddhartha Panda and Dr Mamata Mohanty of Ranapur area too joined the saffron party.
“Joining of senior leaders like Arjuna Charan Sethi, Mohan Jena and others will strengthen the BJP. Inflow of senior leaders to the BJP indicates people’s resolution for a change in the Government in the State,” said Pradhan.
Earlier on the day, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Arjun Charan Sethi had resigned from the party as he or his son was not given party ticket to contest polls.
Apart from resigning from the primary membership of the party, the 78-year-old leader also quit as Member of Parliament as well as from the post of party district president.
“I wanted to meet Naveen Patnaik but was not given an appointment. I waited for four hours but failed to meet him. At this old age, it was embarrassing that I had to wait for so long. I am pained that neither I nor my son was given ticket to contest in the ensuing polls,” Sethi told media.
Bhadrak BJD youth wing president Durga Prasanna Das also tendered his resignation from the party.
