Even as the Congress is trying hard to bring back its former leaders into its fold ahead of the 2019 polls, another former Minister, Padmalochan Panda, who had resigned from the party
recently, would join the BJP soon.
Panda on Friday announced his plan to join the saffron party on October 11.
In April this year, he had resigned from the Congress citing ‘no future’ in the party. However, he had not cleared suspense over which party he would join.
Panda was elected to the State Assembly thrice on Congress ticket from the Simulia constituency in Baleswar district.
He was the Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development and Panchayatiraj Departments from February 22, 1999 to March 5, 2000 during the Congress regime.