Over 15 Sarpanches, 10 Panchayat Samiti Members and their supporters, numbering over 500, belonging to the BJP and the Congress of the Mohana Assembly constituency joined the BJD at the Naveen Niwas here on Tuesday.
The leaders and workers came under leadership of BJD Gajapati distirct president Pradeep Nayak were welcomed to the party by party surpremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “I am happy that elected representative of Mohana and their supporters joined the BJD. Their joining will strengthen the party in Mohana and Gajapati district futher,” said Patnaik.
Sarpanches like Champa Raita, Subash Shabar, Suresh Raita, Rabindra Bhuyan, Jacob Majhi, Banamali Bhuyan, Prabhasini Bhuyan and Jagannath Gamang and Samiti Members like Rajendra Shabar, Ranju Majhi, Kaushal Badaraita, Sushant Rout and Minati Mandal joined the ruling party.
The leaders said they joined the BJD after being inspired by clean image of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and developmental works undertaken by his Government.
Among othes, Gajapati district BJD observer Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, MP Siddhant Mohapatra, former Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Sahu and former Assembly Deputy Speaker Rama Chandra Panda were present.