Bhubaneswar: Expelled BJP leader Himanshu Sekhar Sahoo, who contested as an independent candidate from Dharmasala assembly seat and defeated BJD's Pranab Balabantaray, has rejoined the party.

He joined the BJP at party's office in Bhubaneswar.

Yesterday, Sahoo had met senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan at the office after winning the election.

BJP had on May 29 expelled Sahoo over his alleged involvement in anti-party activities and violating party guidelines.

Though Sahoo had strengthened the party's organization in the constituency much before the polls, the BJP nominated Smruti Rekha Pahi as its candidate for the Dharmasala seat.

Sahoo later decided to contest the assembly polls from the constituency as an independent candidate. He managed to defeat BJD nominee Pranab Balabantaray, the two-time MLA from the seat, by a margin of 4150 votes. Balabantaray had won the seat in 2014 and 2019.

Sahoo got 79759 votes while 75609 votes were polled in favour of Balabantaray.

BJP candidate Pahi got 15926 votes and stood at third position.