In an embarrassment to the Congress, two brothers of former Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal along with their supporters joined the ruling BJD on Monday. Both Khirod Chandra Biswal and Bihari Chandra Biswal along with their around 60 supporters visited the Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, and formally joined the party in Patnaik’s presence.
Patnaik welcomed them to the party fold, saying their joining would strengthen his regional party.Both Biswals from the Jharsuguda Assembly constituency have joined the BJD which would strengthen the party, said Patnaik.
The Biswals said they decided to work of the BJD as they lost trust on the Congress. However, they said they would continue to support and respect Hemananda as their elder brother. “Inspired by the ideology of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, we will work for him. But we will continue to support Hemananda Biswal as a brother,” said Bihari Biswal.
Similarly, Khirod Biswal said the peace in their family would not be affected by their joining the BJD. “We have been maintaining a healthy and decent family life. Elder brother Hemananda Biswal is a State-level leader. He will do politics in his own style. But we will work for the BJD,” Khirod Biswal added.
