Former Minister and Gopalpur MLA, Pradeep Panigrahi, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
Panigrahi’s induction into the BJP was marked by his presence at the state party headquarters, where he joined in the esteemed company of Odisha BJP President, Manmohan Samal, and other senior leaders.
Sources revealed that Panigrahi had a crucial meeting with Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal on February 15. Following this meeting, speculations began swirling regarding his potential transition to the saffron camp.
It is worth noting that Panigrahi faced expulsion from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in 2020 due to allegations of engaging in anti-public activities. BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik took decisive action against Panigrahi after his purported links with Akash Kumar Pathak, the son of tainted IFS officer Abhay Kant Pathak, and his involvement in a job fraud came to light.
The move by Pradeep Panigrahi to join the BJP marks a significant development in Odisha’s political landscape, potentially reshaping the dynamics as the state heads towards crucial political junctures.
