Former Congress MLA Jogesh Singh joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) here on Wednesday.
He along with his supporters from the Sundergarh constituency joined the regional party in the presence of Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik. Patnaik said Singh’s joining the BJD would strengthen the party in Sundergarh district.
Singh had resigned as the MLA on January 22 after he was suspended from the Congress for ‘anti-party’ activities. He had drawn wrath of PCC president Niranjan Patnaik for openly praising Naveen Patnaik in media.
Earlier, Congress leaders Naba Kishore Das, ex-MLA of Jharsuguda, and Pranay Sahu of Bargarh district had quit the party and joined the BJD ahead of the upcoming elections.