Former Odisha CM Giridhar Gamang joins BJP on June 12

Former Congress leader and Ex Chief Minister of Odisha, Dr. Giridhar Gamang, met BJP President Amit Shah in New Delhi today and formally joined the BJP. He was accompanied by his son Shishir Gamang, who also joined the saffron party.

Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Union Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP’s Odisha In-Charge Arun Singh were present at the meeting, which was held to mark the entry of Gamangs into the BJP fold.

Dr. Gamang, a nine-time Lok Sabha MP from Koraput, a former Union Minister and Ex PCC President, was the most popular tribal face of the Congress in Odisha. He has quit the Congress a few days ago and alleged that he was disregarded and ill-treated within the party. It would be interesting to see how BJP would be benefited from Gamang in Odisha and elsewhere by playing the tribal card.

Responding to the development, Dharmendra Pradhan said that Dr. Gamang has considerable presence among the tribals and dalits and the party will be benefited from his experience and expertise. Jual Oram expressed his happiness over Dr. Gamang joining the BJP and said the party’s base will be strengthened, especially in Southern Odisha.