Man, who hosted BJP chief Amit Shah, joins BJD
What's the story
A man, who once hosted lunch for BJP President Amit Shah during his visit to Odisha's Ganjam district last year, has now joined the BJD. Last July, Naveen Swain of Hugulapeta, about 12 km from Berhampur, had served lunch to Shah and other senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram, during their visit to the village for a party program.
Newcomers
BJD welcomed Naveen, BJP sarpanch to their party
Swain, along with BJP Sarpanch, Pradeep Kumar Malana and several of his supporters, joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) yesterday in a meeting at the village. Local BJD MLA from Gopalpur and former minister, Pradeep Panigrahy, said, "We welcome Naveen Swain and Malana to our party. The party's organization will be strengthened in the panchayat with their entry into the BJD."
Reason
I joined BJD because it keeps promises: Naveen Swain
36-year-old Swain, who came to limelight after hosting Shah in his dilapidated house, said, "I decided to join BJD because the party keeps its promise." "My house was damaged in cyclone Phailin in Oct'13. Top BJP leaders had visited the house and expressed concern but did nothing for me," he said, adding BJD arranged a house for him under the 'Biju Pucca Ghara' scheme.
Reaction
Swain was chosen to host Shah because he's poor: BJP
Meanwhile, Malana said he joined "BJD to expedite the development work in the panchayat." Reacting to the development, BJP state secretary Bibhuti Jena said, "The ruling party is purchasing poor people to take credit. It's not good for democracy." While, BJP district unit president Kanhu Charan Pati said they "selected Swain's house for party president's lunch because he was a poor man."