Lok Sabha Polls: Balabhadra Majhi, BJD MP from Odisha, joins BJP

Odisha MP Balabhadra Majhi, who quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) earlier this week, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday. The Nabarangpur MP quit the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, saying that he was ignored by the party. BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed Majhi into the party fold and said the latter had worked a lot for his constituency. Majhi also met BJP president Amit Shah.           

Earlier, when asked whether he left because the party is not giving him a ticket for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, he said: "I don't think so. Ticket distribution processes have not started yet. I don' know who will get the ticket."

Majhi fought on BJD's ticket in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and won from Nabarangpur constituency.

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Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be held simultaneously in Odisha in four phases, beginning from April 11. The last phase of polling in Odisha, which has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 Assembly seats at stake, will take place on April 29.

(With agency inputs)