Bhubaneswar: Former legislator Jogesh Singh, who was suspended from Congress recently, will join the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) February 6 – the day when Congress president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Rourkela and Bhawanipatna.
Singh, a former Sundergarh MLA, informed the media Monday that he will join the BJD here at a function in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “After consulting my supporters and workers, I have decided to join the BJD. My supporters and I will join the party February 6 in Bhubaneswar,” he said.
Singh was suspended from the Congress party January 17 when he had denied attending Rahul’s programme in Bhubaneswar. Later, he also resigned from the post of MLA.
After Naba Kishore Das, he is the second former Congress MLA to join the ruling party.
Despite the party’s recent electoral victories in three states – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh – the state Congress, led by Niranjan Patnaik, is confronted by daily desertions.
There is also speculations that Salepur MLA Prakash Behera might join the ruling BJD. Behera recently launched a padayatra without the party banner and poster.