Former Min & 5-Time MLA Balabhadra Majhi Joins Congress

Bhubaneswar: Former state minister Balabhadra Majhi joined the Congress party on Wednesday. He had resigned from the BJD on January 8.

This former five-time MLA joined the Congress party at a function held in Bhawanipatna of Kalhandi district in the presence of Congress’ Odisha-in-charge Ajoy Kumar, PCC President Sarat Pattanayak, and other senior leaders of the party.

In 1990, Majhi was first elected to the Odisha Assembly from Narla on a Janata Dal ticket. He was re-elected from Narla in 1995 and later from Lanjigarh seat in 2000, 2004 and 2014.

Regarding his quitting the BJD, Majhi said, “I am a tribal leader. I was part of the team when the party (BJD) was formed. I could not meet my own leader and an officer’s permission was needed to meet the CM. As I did not get the due respect, I had to quit BJD.”

Through the induction of Majhi, the Odisha Congress wants to revamp its support base among the tribals. Earlier this month, former Odisha CM and tribal leader Giridhar Gamang rejoined the Congress along with his wife Hemabati Gamang and son Sishir Gamang.

The Congress has revoked the suspension of senior leaders Mohammed Moquim and Chiranjib Biswal as well as the expulsion of former MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria.