Former Principal Accountant General (PAG) Amar Patnaik today formally joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Immediately after his joining, Amar Patnaik was appointed as the head of the BJD's IT cell.
"Amar Patnaik has a very rich experience on working in many states. His joining the BJD will certainly strengthen the party. I welcome him. He will be the head of the IT wing in the BJD," said the chief minister.
"I have a belief that chief minister Naveen Patnaik is the only person under whose leadership Odisha can become the number one state. I was also inspired by Biju Patnaik. All these factors drove me to join the party. More importantly, it is my commitment to work for the betterment of the state," Amar Patnaik told reporters.
Minister and senior BJD leader SN Patro, present at the joining ceremony, said Amar Patnaik will be an asset to the party.
Earlier, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Arun Patnaik had also joined the BJD.
Former director general of All India Radio (News) Giridhari Mohanty had also joined the BJD and was appointed as the party's national spokesperson.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)