Salipur MLA Prakash Behera joins BJP

Bhubaneswar: Sitting Salipur MLA Prakash Behera on Sunday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at party headquarters in New Delhi.

The former Congress leader joined the saffron party in presence of Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP’s national vice-president Baijayant Panda, party’s Odisha President Basant Panda and senior party leader KV Singhdeo in New Delhi.

Behera had resigned from Congress on Saturday alleging that he was ignored by the state party leadership.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said his joining will strengthen the party in coastal Odisha.

BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda says Prakash Behera’s joining is a tremendous strength not just for Cuttack and Kendrapara but for coastal Odisha.