Bhubanerswar, May 9: Former Lok Sabha MP from Koraput, Jayaram Pangi, who was suspended from the BJD after the panchayat polls, and the son-in-law of former finance minister Prafulla Ghadei, Nihar Ranjan Beura, an IITan, today joined the BJP.
Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan, who was present at the programme where the two leaders joined the BJP, asserted that Odisha was moving towards a big change.
The BJD, however, asserted that Pangi's move would have no impact on the politics of undivided Koraput district. Pangi was welcomed to the BJP by his arch-rival in district politics, former chief minister Giridhar Gamang. The two had contested against each other for the Koraput Lok Sabha seat several times.
The BJD had suspended Pangi in March for his alleged anti-party activities. The tribal leader, who was also a former president of the party's district unit, was embroiled in the controversy over the murder of Itishree Pradhan, a schoolteacher. Following a Supreme Court order, the CBI is probing into the case. In her dying declaration, the teacher - who was being harassed by her superiors - had accused the then MP of protecting the culprits in the case.
Last month, Pangi had been in the news for advocating against prohibition. "Whenever any government imposes prohibition, it gets defeated in the polls," he had remarked while citing instances of Biju Patnaik, N.T. Rama Rao and Jayalalithaa.
Describing his suspension from the BJD as "unfortunate", Pangi today said: "I never worked against the party's interests. I am a disciplined worker. I was punished for no fault of mine. I was a victim of a conspiracy hatched by a section of party leaders. I am pained that I could not remain with my beloved leader Naveen Patnaik because of the conspiracy."
Senior BJD leader from Koraput, Rabi Narayan Nanda, said: "It (his departure) will have no impact in the district politics as several young tribal leaders such as Prafulla Pangi and Jhina Hikaka have emerged."
Another incident with possible political significance was overshadowed by Pangi's changing loyalties. Nihar Ranjan Beura, an IITian-turned-politician, also joined the BJP simultaneously. Beura's joining is significant as he is the son-in-law of veteran leader Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, who had been expelled from the BJD.
Beura, who has varied corporate experiences, runs a community dairy farm at his village and works as a consultant for a private university of the state. He had successfully contested the recent panchayat polls. He is now a samiti member of Dumuka gram panchayat under the Marshaghai block of Kendrapara district.
"I consider India a company and Narendra Modi ji the most effective CMD," said Beura after joining the BJP.
