Congress leader and former Bonai MlA Bhimsen Choudhuryon Tuesday joined the BJD along with his 500 supporters at the ruling party headquarters here.
Choudhury joined the BJD at a meeting in the presence of party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“Shri Bhimsen Choudhury, ex-MlA, along with 500 Congress party members from the Bonai Assembly Constituency of Sundargarh district, has joined our party. This will strengthen the party,” Patnaik said. “Keeping in view the trend of development in Bonai under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, I have joined the BJD. I will work for development in the area,” Choudhury said.
In 2014, Choudhury after being suspended from the BJP had joined the Congress. He was suspended from the saffron party for disobeying party whip during Rajya Sabha elections. Choudhury won the Bonai seat in 2009 on a BJP ticket.