Ex-Nabarangpur BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi Joins BJP

New Delhi: Two days after resigning from the BJD, Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi formally joined the BJP at a function in New Delhi on Saturday.

BJP national president Amit Shah and vice-president Baijayant Panda, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the party’s Odisha prabhari Arun Singh and its state unit president Basant Panda were present at a function at the party’s national headquarters.

Talking to mediapersons after joining the BJP, Majhi said he had left a railways job and joined the BJD to work for inclusive development of Nabarangpur. However, in the course of time, he felt ignored at the district and state level. “As I was not informed about any party meetings at the district or state level, I felt it is of no use for me to stay on in the BJD anymore, as the party no longer wants my services,” he said.

A former employee of the Indian Railways, Majhi was offered a BJD ticket to contest the Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat in 2014.

BJD sources said the party leadership is keen to field SC and SC Development Minister Ramesh Majhi from Nabarangpur this time.