Ex BJD leader, who quit Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) last year. Baijayant Jay Panda, 55 joined the BJP today. Jay Panda, quit the BJD last May after a bitter falling out with his party chief, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Jay Panda had been a parliamentarian of the BJD since 2000 and had been among the party's most prominent leaders from Odisha. "I admire Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah's leadership," Mr Panda said.

Ex BJD leader, who quit Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) last year. Baijayant Jay Panda, 55 joined the BJP today. Jay Panda, quit the BJD last May after a bitter falling out with his party chief, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Jay Panda had been a parliamentarian of the BJD since 2000 and had been among the party's most prominent leaders from Odisha. "I admire Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah's leadership," Mr Panda said.