Bhubaneswar: In another setback for BJD, former Rajya Sabha MP and BJD’s IT & SM Cell Head Amar Pattnaik joined the BJP at its office in Bhubaneswar on Monday.

He joined the saffron party in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, prabhari (in-charge) for Odisha Vijaypal Singh Tomar, state president Manmohan Samal, and other senior leaders. ADVERTISEMENT

Amar Patnaik along with Sasmit Patra and BJP nominee Ashwini Vaishnav were elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2019. His tenure ended in February 2024.

The development came even as BJD President and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik departed from Bhubaneswar airport for Nuapada, where he is scheduled to address a public meeting in Komna block.

In 2024, the Conch party had seen two sitting Rajya Sabha members – Mamata Mohan

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