Since BJP declared heavyweight Dilip Ray as its MlA candidate for Rourkela seat, Ray has started his ground work and held several rounds of meeting with party leaders and workers. He is even trying to win over workers and leaders of other parties to the BJP fold.
Source said hundreds of Congress leaders and elected representatives of Jagda and Jamsera Gram Panchayats (GPs) have joined the BJP on Saturday expressing their faith on the leadership of Ray. Amongst them are Jagda sarpanch Silvia Soi, Naib sarpanch lilu Ain, Jamsera sarpanch Puspa Bur, senior Congress leader of Jagda Deepak Sai and many ward members of the two GPs. They are determined to work hard for the victory of Ray in Rourkela and Jual Oram as MP of Sundargarh.
Earlier, Mahila Congress secretary and Rourkela Congress secretary along with their supporters had joined the BJP.
Meanwhile, it is also learnt that former Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Anil Sagar who had joined BJP six months back has again joined BJD with former Rourkela Municipality Chairman Narendra Tripathy at the Naveen Niwas.