Congress, BJP keen to induct Baijayant Panda

A day after Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda resigned from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, two national parties — the Congress and the BJP — on Tuesday said their doors are open for him.

Amid speculation that Panda may join the BJP, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram said, "Panda is a good human being, a good politician and a leader. Unfortunately, the BJD could not recognise Panda's qualities. If he joins the BJP, it will be good for our party."

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had yesterday said any good person who reposed faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, may join the BJP.

Shortly after Panda announced his resignation from the BJD following a year-long acrimonious relationship with the chief minister, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) was understood to have held a strategic meeting at the state party headquarters here, sources said.

OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik and other senior leaders deliberated on political situation in the rival BJD after Panda's resignation.

Both Congress and BJP are more than interested in inducting Panda as he will be a major tool to grind Naveen Patnaik.