In a significant political development, two prominent leaders from Balasore district — former Minister Raghunath Mohanty and former MLA Jiban Pradeep Das — formally joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday.
BJD President and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik personally welcomed the duo at Naveen Niwas in the presence of hundreds of enthusiastic party workers and senior leaders from Balasore. Later, at Sankha Bhawan, the leaders were formally inducted amidst BJD MLAs and district functionaries.
Expressing his happiness on returning to the party, Raghunath Mohanty, who had earlier served as a founding member of the BJD and worked closely with legendary leader Biju Patnaik, said he would function as a disciplined worker under Naveen Patnaik’s guidance. “I will dedicate myself to strengthening and organising the Biju Janata Dal in Balasore district. With our collective efforts, BJD will once again emerge as the number one party in the region,” he asserted.
Jiban Pradeep Das, who was outside the BJD for five years, said he was “extremely happy” to return home. “Under the able guidance of Naveen Babu, I will work as a disciplined member to strengthen and reorganise the party in Balasore district,” he added.
The event was kick-started with introductory remarks by Lekhasri Samantsinghar, the BJD’s candidate for Balasore Lok Sabha seat in the previous elections. Among the prominent leaders present were Jaleswar MLA and former Minister Ashwini Patra, Bhograi MLA Goutam Buddha Das, former Balasore Sadar MLA Swarup Kumar Das, former Remuna MLA Sudhanshu Parida, former Nilgiri MLA Sukanta Nayak, and former Simulia MLA and former Minister Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi.
Party sources believe that the entry of these two experienced leaders, with their strong grassroots connections and organisational skills, will significantly bolster BJD’s presence in Balasore district ahead of future electoral battles.
The development is being seen as a major organisational push by the regional party to reclaim its traditional stronghold in northern Odisha.
