Ending speculation about his political future, Pravat Ranjan Biswal, a former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and three-time MLA, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bhubaneswar. Biswal, who first entered the Odisha Legislative Assembly as an Independent candidate in 2004, made the switch in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal.
Biswal had represented the Choudwar-Cuttack constituency and won in the 2009 and 2014 Assembly elections under the BJD banner. However, he was denied a party ticket in 2019 due to his involvement in the chit fund scam, leading to his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2017.
Despite recent legal challenges, including a refusal by the Orissa High Court to halt CBI proceedings against him, Biswal’s move to the BJP marks a significant shift in his political allegiance. His son currently serves as the MLA for the same constituency, highlighting the family’s political involvement in the region.
In a formal ceremony welcoming Biswal and his supporters, Chief Minister Majhi praised the leader’s decision to join the BJP, emphasizing the party’s values and leadership. Biswal expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and pledged to contribute as a committed party member, aiming to bolster the BJP’s presence in Odisha.
