Bhubaneswar, Feb. 23: Ahead of the general elections, BJD is on poaching mode.

The party is roping in potential candidates from various political parties, particularly the Congress and the BJP. Hemendra Singh, a Congress heavyweight from Nayagarh district, today formally joined the BJD in presence of party supremo Naveen Patnaik. Before switching sides, Singh had met Naveen in the company of BJD MP Pinaki Mishra.

Justifying his decision, Singh said that the Congress leadership treated party leaders and workers as “naukars” (servants).

BJD vice-president and health minister Damodar Rout said: “We are not poaching any one. The BJD under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik has become the only political party with optimum strength and popularity. Naveen being the tallest leader of the state, many political activists have expressed their desire to join the BJD.”

Yesterday, former minister and BJP leader from Mayurbhanj Golak Nayak resigned from the party and accused the leadership of being a “self-centred”.

Only recently, Nayak had called on Naveen. However, he is yet to formally join the BJD.

Similarly, former minister, All India Congress Committee (AICC) member and a heavyweight from Ganjam, Ramakrushna Patnaik put in his papers.

Patnaik’s wife Kumudini, a former MP from Aska, also quit the party. However, they are yet to declared their future plan, though there are talks of the couple inching closer to the BJD.

“We have not yet decided. We may not contest the coming elections,” said Kumidini.

Barely two days before the crucial February 7 Rajya Sabha elections, the BJD had roped in Independent MLAs — Braja Kishore Pradhan and Jitu Patnaik.

BJP state unit president KV Singh Deo said: “The ruling party has no stocks with them. Whatever stocks are with them, Naveen does not believe them. He has no faith on his own party cadre. Last time, the BJD had poached BJP leaders Jiban Pradip Das, Rama Ranjan Baliar Singh and Sananda Marandi. Now the ruling party is indulging in the same tactics. However it will backfire, once their ticket distribution is over.” Another party stalwart, Prashant Nanda, is now a BJD associate member.

Significantly, the BJD cadres are worried about the new entrants to the party fold. Though Energy Minister Arun Sahu, who represents Nayagarh in the Assembly, has publicly made a statement that he would welcome Hemendra Singh, his supporters are unhappy.

“Singh had given a fierce fight to Sahu in the last civic election. How could we welcome him to the party,” said a BJD worker.