With the panchayat elections round the corner, two prominent Odia cine stars, Uttam Mohanty and Asit Pati, on Friday joined the ruling BJD. Mohanty’s wife Aparajita, also a renowned film actor, is in the Congress and was the party’s lok Sabha candidate in 2014.
Uttam Mohanty and Pati along with Barabati-Cuttack BJD MlA Debasis Samantray and party Rajya Sabha member Sarojini Hembram visited the Naveen Niwas and formally joined the BJD.
“Two well-known Odia film stars, Uttam Mohanty and Asit Pati, have joined the BJD. This will strengthen the party,” said BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Mohanty said, “Since my student days, I have been a follower of Biju Patnaik. During the days of the Utkal Congress, I was the general secretary of its student wing. Being motivated by the ideology of Naveen Patnaik, I have joined the BJD. My main objective is to see holistic development of my Mayurbhanj district.” Pati also said he was an activist of the erstwhile Utkal Congress.