Berhampur: Ahead of the elections to urban local bodies (ULBs), the BJP got a morale boost as a former BJD corporator of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) joined the saffron party along with his several supporters.
Former corporator from the erstwhile ward no 20 (present ward no 23) Ranjit Patnaik joined BJP with his supporters in presence of party’s senior leader Bhrugu Baxipatra, Bibhuti Jena and Kanhu Charan Pati at the party office, here on Thursday.
Patnaik said he did not contest the election this time as the ward is reserved for women. But the woman candidate recommended by him was rejected by the BJD for which he quit the party and would campaign for the BJP candidate Ranjita Behera in the ward. Patnaik was elected as a corporator from the ward in 2013 election.
Ganjam district president of BJP Bibhuti Jena said the party organisation in the city, particularly Gandhi Nagar area (ward no 23), would be strengthened with joining of Patnaik.
At a time when the BJP is struggling to revive its fortune after a heavy drubbing in the panchayat elections and is unable to field candidates in all wards of BeMC, Patnaik would give a boost to the confidence of the party workers, political observers felt.
BJP has fielded its candidates in 36 out of total 42 wards in the BeMC, while the BJD and Congress have fielded their candidates in all wards.
While Ranjita, the BJP’s corporator candidate for ward no 23 expressed happiness with the joining of Patnaik, her challenger Soubhagya Laxmi Mishra of BJD said there would be no impact on her winning prospects on the development.
