Bhubaneswar, Nov 21: Three former MLAs and more than 50 leaders joined BJP at the party headquarters here yesterday. They are former Janata Dal MLA of Dharmasala (Jajpur) Guru Charan Tikayat, former BJD MLA of Gunupur (Nabarangpur) Ramamurty Mutika and former Janata Dal MLA of Bhatli (Bargarh) Kumarbar Behera formally joined the saffron party. Besides, BJD leader and Khurda Zilla Parishad member Sangram Keshari Paikray and more than 50 leaders of BJD, Congress and Aam Admi Party (AAP) also joined the party.
These leaders were accorded a warm welcome by BJP state unit president, Basant Panda, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Biswabhusan Harichandan who officially announced their joining the party. Welcoming the new party leaders, Harichandan came down heavily on BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Lashing out at the state government for its transparent administration, Harichandan said transparent administration does not mean that the chief minister will take up panchayat poll campaign in helicopter. On Mahanadi issue, he said the chief minister is trying his best to fool the people of Odisha.
The BJP leader also said the chief minister, who is of late harping on Mahanadi issue, has not been able to set up a mega irrigation project in the state in the last 16 years.
