Purusottam Gagrai ( Dadu), a tribal BJD leader of Joda block, joined the BJP at the BJP office at Keonjhar on Wednesday. Gagrai, known as a longtime supporter of former Champua MLA Santatan Mahakud, was elected as Sarpanch of Anseikala GP. Last time, he was also elected as a PS Member of the same GP. Present Champua BJD MLA Minakshi Mahanta, who won the 2019 elections by a landslide margin, had the support of Mahakud. But after some days, a dispute started between her and Mahakud over mining business as the MLA’s husband Bhakta Mahanta wanted to interfere in every work of the mining sector. Now, Mahakud’s original supporters, who had merged in the BJD, are quitting the party after reports of Meenakshi’s betrayal of Mahakud. When asked about the reason of his joining the BJP, Gagrai said that being inspired by PM Modi and BJP State leader Murali Sharma, he took the decision.