Bhubaneswar: Former Congress MLA Chakradhar Paika today joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) along with hundreds of his supporters at the residence of Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.

Terming it as homecoming, Paika said, "I was in the Biju Patnaik-led party when I was an MLA in 1974. It was Biju Babu for whom I joined the party and became a legislator. During the last phase of my career, I want to serve the people of Mohana assembly constituency by joining the BJD."

On being asked about the chances of contesting in the 2019 polls, Paika said that the decision in this regard will be taken by the party and he will accept it.

"I haven't joined the party by setting terms and conditions. I will carry out any work entrusted upon me by the party," he added.

Notably, Paika was elected to the Assembly in 1974 from Ramagiri constituency as a candidate of Biju Patnaik-led Utkal Congress party. Later in 2009, he successfully contested the Assembly Polls as a Congress candidate from Mohana constituency.

However, he filed nomination in 2014 polls as an independent candidate after failing to secure ticket from Congress and later quit the party.