Bhubaneswar, March 31 -- A day after deserting the Congress ahead of the ensuing elections 2024, Chiranjib Biswal today joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha.

The former two-time MLA and cricketer joined the regional party in the presence of BJD leaders including Rajya Sabha members Sasmit Patra and Manas Mangaraj during a programme held at Shankha Bhawan in Bhubaneswar.

Chiranjib Biswal, the son of Congress stalwart and former Odisha Deputy Chief Minister late Basant Kumar Biswal, was first elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly on a Congress ticket from Tirtol in 2004 elections. He won the Assembly elections in 2014 from Jagatsinghpur.

He was the Vice-President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) and also served as a...