Many BJP minority cell district presidents along with their supporters and some two senior Congress minority leaders joined the BJD at Naveen Nivas here on Saturday.
Those who joined the ruling party include minority cell Khordah president Anisur Rehman, Ganjam president Babu Khan, Jharsuguda president SK Tuphan, Nabarangpur president Anwar Khan and Sundargarh president Mahammad Moini , senior Congress leaders Mahammad Khudrat and SK Mustapha. BJD supremo and CM Patnaik welcomed them and said their joining would strengthen the party further. BJD minority cell president Muna Khan was present.