Bhubaneswar, March 11 -- In a major political development in Odisha, former BJD Member of Parliament from Balasore, Rabindra Kumar Jena, formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday. The move comes after days of speculation about his possible switch from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Jena joined the BJP at the party's state headquarters in Bhubaneswar in the presence of state BJP president Manmohan Samal and other senior leaders. Along with him, a large number of political leaders and grassroots workers from Balasore district also joined the saffron party.

Among those who switched sides were Balasore Sadar Block Chairperson Sunita Behera and Basta Block Chairperson Anjali Das. In addition, more than 150 sarpanches and seve...