Bhubaneswar: Former minister Raghunath Mohanty and ex-MLA Jiban Pradip Das today rejoined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the principal Opposition party in Odisha.

The two leaders along with their supporters were re-inducted into the regional party in the presence of its supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the capital city here.

Patnaik, the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly, welcomed Mohanty and Das back into the party fold and asked them to work for the strengthening of BJD organisation in Balasore district.

“The re-induction of Mohanty and Das into BJD will boost the party organisation in Balasore,” said Patnaik.

Mohanty had resigned from BJP in 2024

Mohanty, a five-time former legislator, had been elected from Basta Assembly segment in Balasore twice in 1990 and 1995 on Janata Dal tickets.

As a candidate of BJD, Mohanty retained the seat in 2000, 2004 and 2009 Assembly elections in Odisha. He had also worked as a minister in the BJD government in the state. 

He had resigned from the BJD and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019. He unsuccessfully contested from Basta segment on a BJP ticket in 2019 Assembly polls. However, the veteran leader quit the party ahead of the 2024 elections.

Das quit the ruling party recently

Das, a three-time former MLA from Balasore Assembly segment, had resigned from the ruling BJP a few days ago.

Das had won the Balasore Assembly seat on a BJP ticket in 2000. Later, he quit the BJP and joined the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state.

Das got elected to the Odisha Assembly from Balasore segment on BJD tickets in 2009 and 2014 elections. However, he lost the polls to BJP candidate Madan Mohan Dutta in 2019.

The BJD, however, denied ticket to Das during the 2020 bypoll to the Balasore Assembly seat following the demise of the sitting MLA. Das was later suspended from BJD for his alleged anti-party activities during the bypoll. The veteran politician returned to the BJP in 2021.