Inspired by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s clean image and his Government’s welfare schemes, over 50 noted intellectuals which include college lecturers, retired administrators, bank officers and artists joined the BJD here on Friday.

Noted freedom struggler late Brahmananda Satpahty’s son retired bank officer and columnist Girish Chandra Satpathy, retired Lecturer and Odisha Sahitya Akademi awardee Dr Sulochana Das, Prof Kapileshwar Mihsra, Odisha High Court lawyer Jayant Kumar Biswal, lawyer Kiran Rout, Prof Jayakrusham Mahant, Prof Bijay Kumar Toppo, retired Additional DGP Gopabandhu Mallick, Bhubaneswar district Lion Governor Bishwanath Mohanty, retired CDPO Chhabi Mohanty, retired CRRI Officer Surendra Nath Rout, Odishi dancer and ‘Mokshya’ chairperson Dr Sujajat Mishra, economist Dr Harish Chandra Nayak joined the BJD.

Welcoming the intellectuals to the party, presence the Chief Minister said their joining would strengthen the BJD further.

Earlier in the day, Sadashiva Pradhani, nephew of senior Congress leader Khagapati Pradhani, had also joined BJD. Pradhani resigned from the post of Assistant General Manager (AGM) of Nalco and joined the ruling party.

The BJD supremo said Pradhani’s joining would strengthen the party in Nabarangpur district.

Speaking on the occasion, Pradhani said he joined the ruling party after being inspired by the ideologies of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik and Khagapati Pradhani and the clean image of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

“I would work towards the development of tribal-dominated Nabarangpur district,” he said.