Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi Joins BJP

Bhubaneswar: Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi joined the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) on Wednesday. He was expelled from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in 2020.

Panigrahi joined the saffron party at BJP’s State headquarters in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Odisha president of the party, Manmohan Samal, and other senior leaders.

“I request the people of Odisha to give full majority to the BJP in Odisha and a chance to serve them. The Odisha Government has been taking credit by hijacking the schemes of the Central Government in the state,” said Panigrahi after joining the BJP.

According to Panigrahi, CM Naveen Patnaik had started his career with the support of Atal Ji and later snapped ties with the BJP.

He alleged that the BJD is trying to hijack central schemes and funds.

The BJD had expelled Panigrahi from the party on November 29, 2020 over “anti-people activities” for his alleged association with tainted IFS Officer Abhay Kant Pathak’s son Akash Kumar Pathak as well as involvement in a job fraud scam. Since his expulsion, Panigrahi has been vocal against the BJD and Naveen Patnaik.