Amid guess of Panda joining BJP union minister welcomes all

Bhubaneswar: Amid speculation of BJD MP Baijayant Panda planning to join the BJP, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the saffron party welcomed all good people to its fold.

"All good people are always welcome to the party with open arms. If they believe in the prime minister and the party's national president?s leadership and support party ideology, they are welcome," Pradhan told reporters here replying to a question on whether Panda is joining the BJP.

BJP state president Basant Panda said "the party will welcome all people who believe in its ideology. However, I do not know regarding Baijayant Panda."

Panda, who claimed to be a founder member of the BJD, was last month removed from the post of spokesman of the party's parliamentary party on the charge of writing "many things" in his Twitter account instead of doing the job assigned to him.

This apart, Panda was attacked with eggs and stones allegedly by BJD activists when the Kendrapara MP was returning after inaugurating a drinking water project in Mahanga area in Cuttack district recently.

BJP state president Basant Panda said "the party will welcome all people who believe in its ideology. However, I do not know regarding Baijayant Panda."