Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi joins Bharatiya Janata Party

Bhubaneswar: Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panigrahi, who was expelled from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in 2020, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today.

Panigrahi joined the saffron party at BJP’s State Office here in the presence of Manmohan Samal, President, Odisha unit of BJP, and other senior leaders.

“The Narendra Modi-led government has transformed the country significantly. Time has now come for change in Odisha also. It’s time to remove an incapable government in the state and form a people-friendly government in the state. I request the people of Odisha to give full majority to the BJP in Odisha and a chance to serve them. The Odisha Government has been taking credit by hijacking the schemes of the Central Government in the state,” said Panigrahi after joining the BJP.

The BJD had expelled Panigrahi from the party on November 29, 2020 over “anti-people activities”.

The action against him was taken after his alleged association with tainted IFS Officer Abhay Kant Pathak’s son Akash Kumar Pathak and involvement in a job fraud came to fore.