Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Mamata Mohanta joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today (August 1), a day after resigning as a Rajya Sabha member and quitting the Naveen Patnaik-led party.
Mohanta joined the BJP at the party’s headquarters here in the presence of senior party leaders, including national secretary Arun Singh and Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh. Some of the BJP MPs from Odisha were also present on the occasion.
Welcoming Mohanta to the party fold, BJP Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh said her joining will further strengthen the party and hoped that she will contribute in implementation of the party’s ‘Sankalp Patra (poll promises) to make India a developed country and Odisha a developed state.
“She comes from a tribal region (in Odisha). The BJP will definitely gain strength with her joining the party,” Singh told a press conference at the party headquarters.
BJP national general secretary Arun Singh also welcomed Mohanta and said she has joined the party embracing its ideology. She was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, he said.
“She has done a lot of work for women empowerment in Mayurbhanj and various other parts of Odisha. She was president of the BJD’s Mahila Morcha. The BJP will certainly gain strength with her joining the party,” Singh told media.
Speaking to reporters, Mohanta said that she came into public life with two goals- public service and public welfare.
“I joined the BJP because I felt that I can achieve my goals while being here,” she said.
In her resignation letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, Mohanta said she felt that there was no requirement of the service of her and her community in the party.
ALSO READ: Odisha: BJD leader Mamata Mohanta resigns from Rajya Sabha membership
ALSO READ: Odisha CM discusses potato supply crisis with Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee amid political blame game
