Bhubaneswar, Feb 25: Ahead of the 2024 elections to Lok Sabha and Odisha State Assembly, former Odisha Minister and senior BJD leader Debasis Nayak joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Sunday.

Nayak, a four-time MLA from Bari constituency in Jajpur district, joined the saffron party at a "Misrana Parba '' programme at the party's State headquarters in the presence of BJP Odisha unit president, Manmohan Samal and other senior leaders.

Samal welcomed Nayak to the BJP and said the former State Minister would strengthen the saffron party in the State.

Speaking on the occasion, Nayak said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a strong country.

“Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is not ruling Odisha, someone else is. Those who have funded the BJD and made Patnaik the CM are now being neglected in the party,” he alleged.

Also Read: Former Odisha Minister Debasis Nayak Resigns From BJD

Earlier in the day, Nayak resigned from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal (BJD). He was elected from Bari Assembly seat in 2000, 2004, 2009 and 2014 on BJD ticket. He also held the portfolios of ministers of Information & Public Relations and Sports & Youth Services.

Meanwhile, former Congress MLA from Attabira constituency in Bargarh district, Nihar Ranjan Mahananda also joined the BJP here today.

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