Bhubaneswar: Veteran BJD leader and former MP Prasanna Patasani has joined the BJP at the party headquarters in Delhi.
He joined the saffron camp in the presence of some newly elected MPs and MLAs of the State. His photo with BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra and MP Sambit Patra and some other leaders appeared in the media even though he is yet to make any public statement regarding his move.
Patasani had been elected to Lok Sabha for five times on BJD ticket. In 2029, he was denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls and this time also the regional party didn’t allot a ticket to contest either in the Assembly or parliamentary election.
Patasani was interested to contest from Bhubaneswar this time, but the BJD had fielded Manmath Routray, son of veteran leader Sura Routray.
After the official announcement of the party, Patasani also expressed his interest to stand from Chilika Assembly constituency on BJD ticket. However, he faced stiff opposition from local leaders.
