Senior Leader From Koraput Tripurari Garada Joins BJD In Bhubaneswar After Quitting BJP

Bhubaneswar: In a shot in the arm for the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, senior leader from Koraput Tripurari Garada joined the party on Wednesday leaving Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Garada, who had contested the 2019 Assembly polls from Koraput as a BJP candidate, joined the BJD at a special ceremony held at Sankha Bhavan in Bhubaneswar in the presence of senior ruling party leaders. He had resigned from BJP a few days ago.

Garada, who was earlier in the BJD, expressed happiness over his return to the party. He said he decided to quit BJP as he was disillusioned with the functioning of the saffron party.

He said the work done by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the development of the state and welfare of people inspired him and led to his return to the party.

Garada was welcomed by senior BJD leaders, including MP Manas Mangaraj, former Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra and former MP Jina Hikaka.