Former BJD lawmaker & Odisha industrialist Baijyant Jay Panda joins BJP

The BJP has identified Odisha as one of the priority states ahead of the polls. In the 2017 state rural elections, the BJP emerged as the second largest party, pushing the Congress to the third spot.

Former BJD lawmaker Baijayant 'Jay' Panda joins BJP on March 4, 2019. PIC/ANI.

Former Biju Janata Dal MP Baijayant Jay Panda joins BJP in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

Panda, who owns an influential media empire in the state, had been a leading parliamentarian of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal before he fell out with its leadership.

He had quit the party in May 2018.

New Delhi: Media mogul and former BJD lawmaker Baijyant 'Jay' Panda joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday. The party expects to receive a boost with him being inducted, especially in Odisha where it is trying to improve its numbers in the Lok Sabha elections this summer. Panda, who was the Biju Janata Dal earlier, quit the party in May 2018. The 55-year-old joined the saffron party in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the national capital. The Assembly poll in the state is likely to be held along with the parliamentary elections, and the party hopes that the presence of Panda will brighten its prospects, especially in coastal Odisha. Panda met BJP chief Amit Shah and joined the party at its office in the national capital. Panda, who owns an influential media empire in the state, had been a leading parliamentarian of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal before he fell out with its leadership. Amid his perceived proximity with the BJP, the BJD suspended him last year for "anti-party" activities. He then resigned from the BJD and also the Lok Sabha, where he represented Kendrapara constituency twice. He has also represented the state in the Rajya Sabha. The BJD had accused him of "anti-party activities" to justify his suspension. It later alleged that he was involved in money laundering as it sought a probe. Panda had denied the charge. Odisha has 21 parliamentary constituencies and the BJD had won 20 of them in 2014. The BJP had won only one seat -- Sundargarh, represented by Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram. The BJP has identified Odisha as one of the priority states ahead of the polls. In the 2017 state rural elections, the BJP emerged as the second largest party, pushing the Congress to the third spot. Panda was in the eye of a storm last year for taking Abhijit Iyer Mitra and a journalist, Aarti Tikoo Singh on a helicopter ride over the Sun Temple and the Puri Jagannath temple on September 15. From the chopper, Mitra had videographed the Sun Temple and used derogatory remarks against the sculptures. Panda had sprung to Mitra's defence and tweeted: "But wait, he was satirical, & was in fact praising our ancient culture, & SC ruling on LGBTQ rights*So now...er." BJP leaders had then demanded the arrests of Mitra and Panda. Panda was suspended from the BJD by Patnaik on January 24, 2018 for indulging in “anti-party activities”. He quit the party four months later. (With additional information from PTI)

Published at : 04 Mar 2019 06:23 PM (IST)

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