Veteran Congress Leader KP Singhdeo Joins BJP !

BHUBANESWAR: Former Union Minister and PCC president Kamakshya Prasad Singhdeo has reportedly joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after quitting Congress party on Saturday.

KP Singhdeo has joined BJP at New Delhi, claimed a news agency.

However, Singhdeo denied the claim saying that the report has no truth.

Sources said Singhdeo was in touch with BJP since 2014 general elections when he was denied Congress ticket to contest from Dhenkanal parliamentary constituency. The scion of the Dhenkanal royal family had represented the constituency six times and become a Union Minister.

During the general elections, he was unhappy with the functioning of Congress. KP Singhdeo had also aired his voice before the central leadership after Sudhir Samal was given party ticket to contest from Dhenkanal constituency.

Samal lost the election to BJD candidate Tathagat Satapathy.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who hails from Dhenkanal constituency, was also keen to induct the veteran Congress leader into the party.