Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang and former Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi may soon join Congress party, said Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati today.

“Gamang is a popular leader and he was elected to the Lok Sabha for nine times. He had also served as the Chief Minister of Odisha and president of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC). He had not uttered a single word against Sonia Gandhi and the Congress high command. So, he may return to Congress soon,” Bahinipati added.

Gamang and his son Sisir have recently met All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge for Odisha A Chellakumar in the presence of PCC president Sarat Pattanayak and Koraput MP Saptagiri Ulaka. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge will take the final decision in this regard, Bahinipati revealed.

“Former Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi has also expressed his interest to join Congress,” added the Jeypore legislator.

Notably, Gamang, a popular tribal leader, had left Congress a few years ago and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gamang joined K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) after resigning from BJP a few months ago.

Pangi had been elected to Odisha Assembly from Pottangi segment in Koraput for four times in the past. He was also elected to Lok Sabha from Koraput on a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ticket in 2009.

Pangi had quitted BJD and unsuccessfully fought the Lok Sabha elections from Koraput on a BJP ticket in 2019.