Bhubaneswar, May 9: Today, over around one and a half months since his suspension from BJD, former MP Jayaram Pangi with his supporters joined the BJP. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan was also present at the ceremony that was held at the BJP State headquarters here. Senior leaders, Giridhar Gamang and Biswa Bhushan Harichandan were also present.
Pangi lashed out on BJD saying that the party is walking on a path that is way different from Biju Babu’s ideologies. To him, Naveen Patnaik was a leader till the former’s suspension. But the party did not even think twice and ousted his 40 years of trust and efforts in BJD.
Jual Oram, the union minister for Tribal Affairs stated that Pangi’s join to the party will gear up the party’s stand in the tribal areas especially.
On the other hand, BJD spokesman Rabi Nanda said that Pangi’s join in BJP would not affect the BJD party in any way as many other tribal leaders have joined the ruling party as well. He also alleged that when Pangi was in BJD, he worked for other parties as well.
The former Koraput district president of BJD, Pangi was suspended by party supremo Naveen Patnaik for allegedly being involved in anti party activities. This happened during the recently concluded ZP chairman elections in Koraput.
