Berhampur: Preparations are on in full swing for a mega BJD event at Khallikote College Stadium here on Wednesday where several senior former Congress leaders will join the ruling party in the presence of chief minister and party supremo Naveen Patnaik on Thursday.

Among senior politicians who will join the BJD are former Union minister of state for rural development Chandrasekhar Sahu, former district Congress committee president Bhagaban Gantayat, former Youth Congress leader and All-India Congress Committee member Bikram Panda, former secretary of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee T. Premanjali and several others. Along with them, about 20,000 political workers will switch their allegiance from the Congress to the BJD at the event.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will land at the City High School helipad here in the afternoon from Hinjilicut. He will then go to the Town Hall by car and inaugurate various projects there before finally reaching the Khallikote College Stadium to attend the meeting.

Tents have been erected and special seating arrangements have been made for veteran political leaders and their workers at the stadium.

"The route from City High School helipad to Khallikote College Stadium will be blocked for the public temporarily to allow the passage of the chief minister's convoy," said deputy superintendent of police, district intelligence bureau, Ajay Kumar Mishra.

Thirty platoons of police force will be deployed to maintain law and order and ensure security of the leaders. Forces from other districts have also been mobilised for the purpose. Eight senior officers, such as additional and deputy police superintendents, 30 inspectors and more than 100 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors will supervise law and order, said Mishra.

The BJD expects a gathering of 50,000 people at the venue.

President of BJD's Ganjam unit Pradip Panigrahi told news persons on Tuesday: "We are eagerly waiting to welcome the leaders from the Congress."