In a major jolt to the BJP State unit, a senior leader from Ganjam and former Deputy Speaker in the State Assembly Rama Chandra Panda joined the BJD on Thursday.
BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed Panda to the party at his residence Naveen Niwas here.
“I am delighted that BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda has joined the BJD. I welcome him to our party. He will prove to be a tremendous asset to our party,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
Regarding his joining, Panda said, “I was feeling uncomfortable in the BJP for the last one year. The persons who were involved in anti-party activities and opposed me during last lok Sabha elections are now being given importance.”
“BJP State president Basant Panda didn’t invite me to a meeting held at my old Assembly constituency Chhatrapur recently. They (State leaders) are now all dependent on Union
Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The party’s performance will be known after the panchayat polls,” said disgruntled Panda.
BJD vice-president Surjya Narayan Patro and Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahy were present at the Naveen Niwas on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Panda’s joining has been hailed as a good step by his supporters in the Chhatrapur Assembly constituency.
Sources close to Panda said discontentment had first escalated during selection of party nominees to head the Ganjam district unit and subsequently for the ongoing panchayat polls in Ganjam district. Panda had not been consulted for these purposes.
Notably, Panda was the first to be elected as a BJP candidate to the Assembly from Ganjam district, the home turf of the Chief Minister.