Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Kumar Panhigrahi, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party today, said he would work with full strength to oust the 'arrogant' and 'autocratic' Naveen Patnaik government from Odisha in the 2024 elections. 

"Naveen Babu (Naveen Patnaik) became the Chief Minister with the support of the BJP and the blessings of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. However, he later broke the alliance with the BJP for his own interests. Time has come to remove the arrogant and autocratic Naveen Patnaik government and bring BJP to power," Panigrahi said while accepting the BJP shawl and cap at the party's headquarters here today.

The three-time MLA and former Minister vowed to oust the Naveen Patnaik government in the ensuing Assembly elections. He appealed to the people of Odisha to give full support to the BJP once. "The BJP government will be dedicated to the people. If the BJP comes to power in Odisha, the State Secretariat and all government establishments will be open to one and all. States growth will reach new heights," he asserted.

He said he joined the BJP after being inspired by the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has not only put the country on the development track but also upheld the dignity of the nation the world over.   
"Inspired by PM Narendra Modi's ideals, I joined the BJP. The BJD dispensation in the State has been blind, dumb, deaf, autocratic and arrogant," he reiterated. 

Once a close aide of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Panigrahi was known to be a strong critic of the alleged bureaucratic rule in the State. He was expelled from the ruling BJD on November 29, 2020, on charges of ‘anti-people activities’.