Bhubaneswar: Putting an end to all speculations, former Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Prakash Mishra joined the BJP at a ‘Mishrana Parba’ here on Sunday in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other senior leaders of the party. Apart from Mishra, ex-Congress MLA from Jaleswar Debi Prasanna Chand and former BJD legislator Brundaban Majhi also joined the saffron party.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion of the joining ceremony, Mishra targeted the ruling-BJD and said, “In the last five years, the level of administration by the Odisha government has hit rock bottom and the people of the State now need a change of guard to free themselves from pain.”
Mishra also clarified that he had never thought about joining a political party in his career, but after being inspired by the enthusiasm to work for the welfare of people under the leadership of PM Modi, he finally decided to join the BJP.
The former Odisha cadre IPS officer further called upon the people and leaders of the party to re-elect PM Modi for the betterment of people of Odisha and the country at large.
During the Mishrana Parba ceremony, BJP campaign committee convener Damodar Rout came down heavily on the BJD and said that election tickets are on sale in the ruling party and it is on the verge of collapse.
Similarly, terming the leaders of the BJD as ‘Kalapahad’ (general of Mughal governor who conquered parts of Odisha) Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said those who are trying to tarnish the dignity of Odisha will get a befitting reply from four-and-half crore people of the State.
Responding to Naveen Patnaik's claim that BJD will clean sweep Lok Sabha polls in Odisha, Pradhan said the love and affection of people of the State for PM Modi will help BJP win all the 21 LS seats in the State.
Mishra, who was a 1977 batch IPS officer, served as the State DG of Police from 2012 to 2014, before being abruptly sacked from the post.
He was slapped with a Vigilance case on charges of financial irregularities while he was CMD of Odisha Police Housing Corporation. However, the case was later scrapped by the Orissa High Court.
Mishra was posted as the Special Secretary (Internal Security) in the Union Home Ministry and later appointed as the DG of CRPF on December 22, 2014.
With BJP setting high hopes from Odisha as part of its 'Mission East' goal, experts are of the view that roping another top officer into its party fold after the induction of retired IAS officer Aparajita Sarangi a few months ago, will strengthen its poll prospects. Both Mishra and Sarangi have clean image and enjoy the reputation of being honest and able administrators in their respective arena.