Bhubaneswar: Former minister and five-time MLA Balabhadra Majhi, who quit BJD two weeks ago, today joined the Congress in the presence of Odisha in-charge Ajay Kumar and PCC president Sarat Patnaik at a special prgramme in Bhawanipatna.
With his supporters, Majhi reached the programme venue in a massive procession and joined the grand old party. Senior leader Bhakta Das, MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Santosh Sing Saluja and many others were present on the occasion.
PCC president Sarat Patnaik said that Majhi’s joining will further strengthen the party in Kalahandi district.
Majhi was first elected to the Odisha Assembly in 1990 from Narla assembly constituency on a Janata Dal ticket. He again won in 1995.
Majhi became MLA on a BJD ticket in 2000 and 2004. He also served as the SC/ST development minister in Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet from 2002 to 2006.
Majhi had resigned from BJD on January 8. Though he had not cited any reason behind the decision, he alleged that he was sidelined by the party despite being an active member of the party.
He alleged that he was not allowed to meet the Chief Minister many times. He said that he felt neglected in the party since 2019 and the party denied him a ticket to contest the assembly poll.
