Baijayant Jay Panda joins BJP | Photo Credit: ANI

New Delhi: Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Baijayant Jay Panda on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, giving a boost to the opposition party in Odisha. The development came just weeks after Jay Panda had said that he is ready to join any party that is "committed to tackling the severe problems that Odisha now faces".

Jay Panda, a long-time BJD leader, had fallen apart with party chief Naveen Patnaik, the chief minister of Odisha, last year. He today met BJP chief Amit Shah ahead of formally joining the party.

Speaking at the BJP headquarters here where Jay Panda was formally inducted into the party, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, “28th May 2018 you resigned from the BJD and today you have joined the country's biggest political party. Today, it's a good day for the BJP on Mahashivratri.”

Nine months of introspection & widespread consultations w/colleagues & public.

Grateful for support recd from all over.

On auspicious #MahaShivratri I've decided to join @BJP4India & work under the leadership of @narendramodi Ji to serve Odisha & India to the best of my ability — Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) March 4, 2019

“For the last 20 years, he has served from both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. He has a similar ideology like our dearest PM when it comes to public and political issues,” the minister added.

On his part, Jay Panda said, “We have a situation in Odisha where governance has deteriorated. Crimes against women have increased. Development issues have also gone on the backburner. And the BJP is capable of doing better for the state of Odisha.”

Delhi: Former Biju Janata Dal MP Baijayant Jay Panda who joined BJP earlier today meets party president Amit Shah. pic.twitter.com/rGbRZuSzDC — ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019

"The BJP has a history of taking tainted leaders like Jayaram Pangi, Mukul Roy and now Baijayant Panda. The purpose of his politics is only for business. Baijayanta Panda has joined the BJP to save himself and his business empire from the long hand of law as complaints have been filed with CBI, ED and Income Tax for his alleged black money and money laundering activities through shell companies in the Bahamas," senior BJD leader Pratap Jena said

He added that Panda had been planning the move since 2014 the moment the BJP came to power at the Centre. "He had, for this reason, started singing praises of the BJP leadership in his articles and columns, indulging in anti-party activities for which he was suspended from the BJD on 26 January 2018. Whatever the BJD had been saying about Baijayanta Panda and his relationship with BJP have been proven true."

Assembly Elections in Odisha are expected to be held along with the Lok Sabha elections, and Jay Panda’s inclusion is likely to help the BJP’s prospects in the state, especially in coastal regions, the party believes.

Jay Panda runs an influential media empire in Odisha. He was suspended by the ruling BJD in Odisha amid his perceived proximity with the BJP. The BJD issued his suspension letter alleging "anti-party" activities by the MP. Later, it also accused him of being involved in money laundering. Panda had denied the charge.

Jay Panda later quit the BJD and also resigned as Lok Sabha MP.