Fifteen Dalit families headed by Bhajan Mallick of Juania gram panchayat in the Ali area in Kendrapada district have joined the Congress after quitting the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
They formally came to the Congress fold on Sunday in the presence of District Congress Committee (DCC) president Debedra Sharma, former Zilla Parishad member Dhanaranian Bose and Juania GP Congress president Subrat Nayak and secretary Harakrushna Dhal.
Besides Bhajan Mallick’s family, the others who joined the Congress included those of Bigyan Mallik, Dushmant Mallick, Chandra Kanta Mallick, Pabani Mallick, Bhaban Mallick and libana Mallick.