Brarhampur, Nov 12: Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, who has been expelled from BJD, is rumoured to be joining BJP soon.
Reacting upon it, Berhmpur BJD MLA & Ganjam District Planning Board chairman Vikram Panda said, "There are rumours that Pradeep Panigrahi is going to join the BJP."
Holding a press conference here, he said “Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi has been expelled from BJD for his anti-people activities. Now, the BJP is eager to take him into the party. The BJP leaders talk about principles in their speeches but do not actually embrace them. In the eyes of the state BJP leaders, the principles are applicable only to the leaders of other parties. The people of Odisha are witnessing the dishonesty of state BJP leaders. Now it is clear that there is no policy or ideal in BJP. It does not hesitate to take leaders whom they are calling corrupt earlier.”
Panda added that many cases were filed against Panigrahi in various police stations.
Pradeep Panigrahi extorted money from youth in the name of giving jobs in Tata Group. BJP leaders staged agitations in the state calling Pradeep Panigrahi a scammer, land mafia, and a supporter of the liquor mafia and demanded his arrest, said Panda.
At the conference, the district president and former MLA, Ramesh Chaupattanaik, Odisha State Cashew Corporation Chairman Subas Maharana were also present.
On the other hand, Ganjam BJP leader Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said, “ Panigrahi’s joining in BJP is a rumour."
