Odisha BJP chief’s nephew joining BJD holds no significance: Pratap Sarangi

Bhubaneswar: Senior BJP leader Pratap Sarangi today claimed that party chief Basant Panda’s nephew, Harish Chandra joining the ruling-Biju Janta Dal (BJD) holds no significance as the saffron party is growing in Odisha ahead of the upcoming elections.

Sarangi’s statements came soon after Panda’s nephew Harish Chandra along with scores of his supporters from Nuapada joined BJD at a special function held at Naveen Niwas today.

“Party chief’s nephew joining BJD will not have any impact,” said Sarangi.

Odisha BJP chief Basant Panda too downplayed matter and said, “The saffron party is not a party of brokers or sycophants. I do not control my nephew & I have nothing to worry about who goes where.”

Earlier, Harish Chandra had claimed that he decided to quit BJP as the top leadership in Nuapada district is neglecting other party workers.

“Neither the district president nor the district general secretary in Nuapada has powers in Nuapada. I did not want to be in the party where there is no democracy,” alleged Harish.