Over 300 BJD and Congress leaders and workers of Ganjam, the home turf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, joined the BJP here on Monday. Those BJD leaders who joined the BJP said they had been fed up with the ruling party’s hooliganism and corruption practices in Ganjam district. “Ruling party leaders are involved in corruptions in every sector. law and order situation has broken down and people of Gajam are not getting benefits of Central schemes,” they alleged.
BJD senior leaders like Gangadhar Nayak, Buguda Panchayat Samiti Vice-Chairman Rashmita Pradhan, Naib Sarapanch Santoshini Pradhan, Jugal Pradhan, Popu Sethi, Khadal Pradhan, Dibakar Nayak, Chakrapani Pradhan, Ranju Nayak and Bhikari Pradhan and Congress’ Cooperative Society director Simanchal Palai joined the BJP with their supporters.
BJP State president KV Singh Deo, party’s national executive members Biswabhushan Harichandan and Bijay Mohapatra welcomed the leaders to the party at a special function held at the party’s State head office here. Among others, BJP general secretary (organisation) Prasanna Kumar Mishra, former Minister Ramkrushna Patnaik, former MP Kumuduni Patnaik, spokesperson Sameer Mohanty, Ganjam district’s senor leader Mahesh Mohanty, Bhagaban Panda and Surya Mishra were present.