Bhubaneswar: In an unending shuffling of leaders of both the BJP and BJD in Bijepur, senior party leader Bhisma Sharaf and local sarpanch Rajesh Seth along with their supporters today joined the BJD in presence of party supremo and CM Naveen Patnaik at his residence ahead of the by-election.
Patnaik welcomed them to the party and expressed hope that their joining would strengthen the BJD base in Bijepur.
"Bhisma Sharaf, a prominent BJP leader from Bijepur Assembly constituency and Rajesh Seth, sarpanch of Bijepur along with 150 BJP followers have joined the Biju Janata Dal today. Sharaf's joining is home coming. Their joining will strengthen our party. I welcome them", Patnaik said.
Sharaf said CM's various welfare activities in Bijepur lured him and his followers to join the regional party. "There has been a constant flow of development in Odisha but Bijepur was left out. In last one year, CM Naveen Patnaik has taken various measures including a package of Rs 1250 crore approved recently for the development of our people. So, we all decided to join the BJD today. We will work hard for the development of our area," Saraf said after joining the party formally.
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BJD leader and former Barpalli block chairman Dhiraj Pradhan along with his supporters had joined the BJP yesterday.