Kendrapara: Two former MLAs and several other leaders joined BJP today at a ‘Mishrana Parva’ organised in the district here in the presence of Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Former MLA of Aul Dolagobinda Nayak and former Kendrapara MLA Utkal Keshari Parida joined the saffron party today at the event that began with a massive bike rally.
However, BJP's district president Sukant Dwivedi boycotted the ‘Mishrana Parva’ as senior party leader Bijoy Mohapatra was not invited to the event.
Talking to media persons, Mohapatra said, "I am not aware of today's 'Mishrana Parva'. Not even the party's State secretary, president, minister or district leaders informed me about it."
Replying to Mohapatra's comment, Prithviraj Harichandan, general secretary of Odisha BJP, said, "Mohapatra is a member of the party's state executive committee. We have informed him through the right forum. He may deny now but he has been informed.”
A high level committee of the party takes a call on who will join the party and no leader can decide on it, added Harichandan.
Meanwhile, police detained 11 Congress workers, who raised slogans like 'Dharmendra Pradhan Go Back' and protested Pradhan's visit to the district with black flags at Tinimuhani chhak.
Earlier, unidentified miscreants allegedly tore and burnt posters and banners of BJP. Hoardings were also found destroyed at old bus stand and Evening College area in the district headquarters town. Suspecting BJD’s hands behind such vandalism, district BJP lodged a complaint at Town police station.