<p>New Delhi: Former Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik on Monday joined the BJP in Odisha in the presence of chief minister Mohan Charan Manjhi, the party’s Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and Odisha president Manmohan Samal besides other senior leaders. He said that he was inspired by prime minister Narendra Modi. </p><p>“I joined the BJP to serve the nation. I quit my government job in 2018 and became an MP in 2019. So long, I have worked for the development of the State, and now the time has come to dedicate myself to nation-building,” he said. </p><p>Patnaik, who served as the IT Cell chief of the BJD, said that he was deeply moved whenever he listened to Modi’s speeches in Parliament. “His commitment to India’s progress and his vision for a new India by 2047 inspire me greatly. Under his leadership, India has earned a place of pride in the world,” he said. “I decided to join BJP because no other party has a meaningful role in building the nation today.”</p>.Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 | BJP won't make Nitish CM, instead give post to some 'chela': Mallikarjun Kharge.<p>The move will affect the BJD’s prospects in the upcoming assembly by-poll in Nuapada, as it struggles to retain it. The by-poll was necessitated by the passing of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia. His son Jay Dholakia joined the BJP recently and will contest the by-poll as the BJP candidate. </p><p>When he joined, Manjhi said that Patnaik left as he felt suffocated within the BJD. “There was no scope for him. Today, he has joined the BJP, there is plenty of scope to work here for the nation. I am sure that he will achieve great laurels while working for us,” said CM Majhi.</p><p>He said that Patnaik will campaign for BJP in Nuapada. “Naveen Babu is campaigning in Nuapada today, Amar Babu will campaign there for us tomorrow,” Manjhi added. </p>
<p>New Delhi: Former Biju Janata Dal Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik on Monday joined the BJP in Odisha in the presence of chief minister Mohan Charan Manjhi, the party’s Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and Odisha president Manmohan Samal besides other senior leaders. He said that he was inspired by prime minister Narendra Modi. </p><p>“I joined the BJP to serve the nation. I quit my government job in 2018 and became an MP in 2019. So long, I have worked for the development of the State, and now the time has come to dedicate myself to nation-building,” he said. </p><p>Patnaik, who served as the IT Cell chief of the BJD, said that he was deeply moved whenever he listened to Modi’s speeches in Parliament. “His commitment to India’s progress and his vision for a new India by 2047 inspire me greatly. Under his leadership, India has earned a place of pride in the world,” he said. “I decided to join BJP because no other party has a meaningful role in building the nation today.”</p>.Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 | BJP won't make Nitish CM, instead give post to some 'chela': Mallikarjun Kharge.<p>The move will affect the BJD’s prospects in the upcoming assembly by-poll in Nuapada, as it struggles to retain it. The by-poll was necessitated by the passing of BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia. His son Jay Dholakia joined the BJP recently and will contest the by-poll as the BJP candidate. </p><p>When he joined, Manjhi said that Patnaik left as he felt suffocated within the BJD. “There was no scope for him. Today, he has joined the BJP, there is plenty of scope to work here for the nation. I am sure that he will achieve great laurels while working for us,” said CM Majhi.</p><p>He said that Patnaik will campaign for BJP in Nuapada. “Naveen Babu is campaigning in Nuapada today, Amar Babu will campaign there for us tomorrow,” Manjhi added. </p>