The Odisha unit of the Aam Aadmi Party suffered a major setback when five of its prominent leaders joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal here on Wednesday.
The leaders — AAP's State general secretary Nandlal Singh, spokesperson Bharadwaj Mishra, State's youth wing president Subrat Chhatoi, State students' wing president Jyoti Prakash Mohanty and party’s Balangir district coordinator Ajay Das — joined the BJD in the presence of Chief Minister and party president Naveen Patnaik at his residence. They came in a procession along with a large number of their supporters.
Welcoming them into the party, Mr. Patnaik said that their presence will strengthen the BJD. He urged them to work for the party and to help it provide better governance to the people.
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The leaders appreciated the achievements of the Odisha government and assured the BJD leadership that thousands of their supporters will work for the ruling party to ensure that Mr. Patnaik wins the elections in 2019.