Ex-CM Hemananda Biswal's brothers join BJD

BHUBANESWAR: Two brothers of veteran Congress leader and former chief minister Hemananda Biswal today formally joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal ( BJD).

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik welcomed them to the party and expressed hope that their joining will strengthen BJD.

"Khirod Chandra Biswal and Bihari Chandra Biswal, brothers of Hemananda Biswal, ex-chief minister, along with their 60 followers of Congress from Jharsuguda assembly constituency have joined Biju Janata Dal today. Their joining will strengthen the party. I welcome them," Patnaik said.

"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.

"We expressed anguish over the activities of Congress in Jharsuguda and apparently lost trust on the party," Bihari Biswal said.

Khirod Biswal said their move would not affect the family.

"We have been maintaining a healthy family life. Elder brother Hemanand Biswal is a state-level leader. He will do politics in his own style. But we will work for BJD," Khirod Chandra Biswal.

Earlier, former Congress chief minister and ex-union minister Giridhar Gamang had joined BJP while former leader of opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress also switched over to the ruling party before the 2014 general elections.