Prasanna Patnaik, who earns the distinction of being the State’s first BJP MlA, returned to the party on Saturday. Patnaik had won the Kamakshyanagar Assembly seat way back in 1985 on a BJP ticket.
“I played a pivotal role in establishing the BJP in the State. I am very pleased that I have returned to my old home,” Patnaik told mediapersons after formally rejoining the party here.
Stating that he had mistakenly strayed into the BJD fold, Patnaik said he and his wife Nalini returned to the party to get involved in the process for forming Government led by Narendra Modi at the Centre.
Besides, over a hundred followers of Patnaik, including former Kamakshyanagar block chairman Abhimanyu Behera, Debesh Kumar Nayak, Shailendra Patnaik, Bibhu Patnaik and Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra joined the party.