BJD makes big show of strength during ex-Union minister's joining

Berhampur: The ruling-BJD on Wednesday organized a massive event in Berhampur to welcome former Union minister Chandrasekhar Sahu and senior Congress leaders Bikram Panda and Bhagwan Gantayat to party.

As many as 11 corporators of Berhampur Municipal Corporation also joined BJD in presence of party president and CM Naveen Patnaik.

Addressing a mass gathering, Patnaik thanked people for their support and welcomed Sahu and others to the party stating that the party would be benefitted by their presence.

"BJD has always welcomed people who work for the development of the State and will continue to do so," he added.

Sahu, in his maiden speech as a BJD member, said he has always discharged his responsibilities towards the people of the land dedicatedly as for him its 'first mati (land) then party'.

"Naveen babu is the symbol of Odisha's development. Under his charismatic leadership, I will work for the people," he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the other hand played down BJD's such show of strength and said the ruling-party is trying to gain its lost ground in the State with the help of Congress.

"I am unable to see BJD being driven by any of the ideologies of late Biju babu. The party is turning into 'Biju-Janaki' party," said Union Minister Jual Oram while addressing a gathering at Bhawanipatna in Kalahandi in presence of BJP's national president Amit Shah.

On Sahu joining BJD, senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra said that people changing parties is a usual affair in politics and no party gets destroyed or collapses if an individual quits.