Bhubaneswar, Jan 19: A large number of leaders belonging to the BJD and the Congress joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at a special programme here today. 

All the leaders said they switched over to the BJP after being inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the pro-people work done by him. They said the BJP will drive out the 'corrupt' BJD government and will certainly form a government in 2024. 

Former Samabalpur district BJD president Dr Pramod Rath along with his supporters joined the BJP. Along with him, BJD leader Laxmipriya Pradhan, Sujata Singh, Sabita Mahananda, former Ward Member Krushna Chandra Gardia and Manju Gardia joined the saffron party. 

Former Chhatra Congress president of Koraput district Rabindra Mohapatra and P Gopal Rao joined the party. A large number of leaders of Baragarh district's Atabira block led by Madhusudan Sharma joined the event. 

Ganjam Ghumusar's noted surgeon Dr Basant Kumar Das along with leaders Raanjan Kumar Jena, Lesi Mohapatra, Duryodhan Mohanty, Dinabandhu Seth and Shankar Biswal came to the BJP fold. 

BJP Odisha State president Manmohan Samal, MLA Nauri Nayak, Lalitendu Mohapatra, former MLA Rabi Nayak, senior leader Surma Padhee, Anita Subhadarshi Nayak and Ashok Mihsra welcomed the newcomers with a shawl and a BJP cap. 
BJP State vice-president Biranchi Narayan Tripathi, State Secretary Kasturi Mishra, Ghumusara District president Gokulananda Mallick were present. 

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