Bhubaneswar, March 25 Former minister Raghunath Mohanty and former MLA Jiban Pradeep Dash returned to the BJD on Wednesday after severing their ties with the ruling BJP.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik welcomed the two leaders at his residence after they formally joined the regional outfit at 'Sankha Bhawan', the party's state headquarters.
It is believed that with the joining of these two experienced leaders, the Biju Janata Dal will once again be strengthened in Balasore District, a statement said.
Mohanty, who has served as a minister for Panchayati Raj and Law under the Naveen Patnaik government, said that he would work as a disciplined worker of the party. He further said that he would work towards strengthening and organizing the BJD in Balasore district.
Jiban Pradeep Das said that he is extremely happy to return to the party after being outside BJD for five years. He added that under the guidance of Naveen Patnaik, he would work as a disciplined member to strengthen and organize the Biju Janata Dal in Balasore district.
The joining of these two senior leaders in BJD is considered politically significant in Balasore district after the regional party's former MP Rabindra Kumar Jena quit the party and joined the BJP. Jena's wife, Subasini, is alleged to have voted in favour of the BJP in the recent Rajya Sabha polls.