Bhubaneswar: A week after resigning from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The six-time MP from Odisha was inducted into the saffron party in presence of Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, party's national vice-president Baijayant Panda and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a programme in New Delhi.

The parliamentarian had deserted the conch party on March 22.

Apart from Mahtab, Ollywood actor-turned-politician and former Berhampur MP Sidhant Mohapatra and Santali author Padma Shri Damayanti Beshra also officially joined the BJP at the event.

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The BJP has announced candidates for 18 constituencies in Odisha for Lok Sabha elections 2024. The candidates are yet to be announced for the remaining 3 Lok Sabha seats including Cuttack in the state.

After joining the BJP, Mahtab is likely to be fielded from Cuttack Lok Sabha Constituency against BJD's Santrupt Misra.