Odisha: Expelled BJD MLA and ex-minister Pradeep Panigrahy joins BJP

A three-time lawmaker from Gopalpur in Ganjam district, Panigrahy had earlier served as a higher education minister in the state government

Updated on: Feb 21, 2024, 17:53:12 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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Bhubaneshwar: Expelled Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a function held in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday, officials familiar with the matter said.

Panigrahy, 60, joined the party in the presence of Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal and other senior leaders.

“With permission from central BJP leadership, I have joined the party,” he said. He expressed that there has been considerable development in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it is also time for change in Odisha.

“Time has come to rise above regionalism to nationalism. PM’s vision of a strong economy, peace indicator and works done by him have infused faith among people and time is ripe for a change in Odisha to throw corrupt government in the state here to save democracy,” Panigrahi said adding that the BJP is working towards Odisha first and Odia first principle.

Panigrahy claimed that the Central government has been sanctioning funds for the all-round development of Odisha which is being hijacked by the ruling BJD.

A three-time lawmaker from Gopalpur in Ganjam district, Panigrahy had earlier served as a higher education minister in the state government.

Known for his organisational skills, Panigrahy is expected to shore up the prospects of the party in the Ganjam district, where the BJP is weak.

Panigrahy was expelled from the party in November 2020 for alleged anti-people activities and later arrested by state CID in an alleged cybercrime case. The Enforcement Directorate has also lodged a case against him over money laundering allegations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More