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Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s political rival and BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra’s son Arabinda Mohapatra joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Thursday. 

 

Arabinda thanked Patnaik and his close aide V K Pandian after joining the BJD at Sankha Bhavan, the party's headquarters here, and a party scarf was handed over to him.

 

He later met the chief minister at his residence, Naveen Niwas. Arabinda was welcomed at the party by Patnaik, who is also BJD president, in the presence of several leaders, MLAs, and observers of the Kendrapada district.

 

“I welcome Arabinda Mohaptra to the Biju Janata Dal. You (Arabinda) work hard for the development of the Kendrapara district. He is the son of Bijoy Babu," Patnaik said during a programme at his residence. 

 

Speculations were rife that Arabinda could join the BJD.

 

According to sources, his father Bijoy Mohapatra's close aides had, in a recent meeting, suggested that Arabinda should join the BJD.

 

The development comes at a time when the BJP and the BJD are likely to form an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly elections, 15 years after their break-up in 2009.

 

Bijoy, the four-time MLA, was a close aide of the late Biju Patnaik, the father of Naveen, and was also instrumental in the formation of BJD.

 

Bijoy, however, formed the Orissa Gana Parishad in 2001 after he was ousted from the BJD in 2001. He later merged his party with Sharad Pawar’s NCP.

 

The veteran leader joined the BJP after the NCP entered into an alliance with the BJD for the 2009 polls.