Angul, Apr 5: Sitting Athamallik MLA Ramesh Chandra Sai, who quit Biju Janata Dal (BJD) yesterday, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday ahead of the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly polls.

Sai along with his supporters joined the saffron party in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a "Misrana Parba" (Joining ceremony) held at Katada of Angul district.

Pradhan welcomed Sai and his supporters to BJP and said the MLA would strengthen the saffron party in Angul district.

Recently, several BJD leaders including several sitting MPs and MLAs quit the BJD and joined the saffron party.

Odisha will vote in the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls, which are being held simultaneously, in four phases. The polling will be held on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1.

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