Bhubaneswar: Former BJD MP from Kalahandi district Arka Keshari Deo joined BJP along with his wife Malvika at a function in the state party office here Wednesday, said a source.
BJP Odisha President Manmohan Samal, party Kalahandi MP Basant Kumar Panda and party MLA Pradeepta Kumar Nayak welcomed both Arka Keshari Deo and his wife Malvika into the party fold.
Arka Keshari joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in 2013 after the demise of his father Bikram Keshari Deo, who had won the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat thrice during the 12th, 13th and 14th Lok Sabha elections as a BJP candidate.
Arka Keshari Deo was elected to Kalahandi Lok sabha seat as BJD candidate in 2014 general elections. He however quit the BJD after he was denied a party ticket in the 2019 elections.
Both Deo and his wife Malvika told the newsmen that they have decided to join the BJP respecting the decision of the people of Kalahandi.
UNI