Cuttack: Former Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda Friday claimed that he has no plan to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
“There is no truth in the rumour that I would join BJP December 24. I am yet to take a call on fighting the next election. I may fight the poll if people want it,” Panda told the media persons at the inaugural ceremony of a cricket tournament at Gopalpur here.
The former MP also claimed that the people in state are in favour of a change with regard to the political scenario. Commenting on the recent Men’s Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, Panda said that the state government could have utilised the funds for development of hockey in Odisha.
“I had left BJD after some people harmed my self-esteem,” Panda said. The former MP also highlighted his father late Bansidhar Panda’s contribution to the industrialisation of Odisha.
Local BJP leader Dillip Mallick showered encomiums on Panda for his family’s contribution to the industrial development of Odisha.
Commenting on Panda’s statement that people are in favour of a change in Odisha, BJD leader Subash Singh said, “People of Kendrapara want a change. Panda has no popularity among the masses. Without BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik, Panda has become helpless,” Singh said.