In a major jolt to the BJD in Gajapati district, many ruling party leaders joined the Congress here on Wednesday.
Congress leaders and the new entrants moved in a massive bike rally before a joining ceremony held at the DCC office here. MlA K Surya Rao welcomed as many as 35 BJD leaders to his party.
BJD MP representative K Rama Swamy, Parala municipality former councilor Tripati Patra, senior leader D Apparao, former Sarpanch Saikiran Gamang, K Sanjib, Sarapanch Majes Raita and Antosi Bhuyan and their supporters joined the Congress.
Regarding his joining, Rama Swamy said, “I was in Congress since student days. I had joined the BJD after an internal understanding. As tribals always are with Congress, I came back to my own house.”
MlA Rao said the joining the BJD leaders would further strengthen the Congress and be very beneficial during the ensuing panchayat elections.
He said the BJD would be completely thrown out from Gajapati district soon.