In a major political development, the BJD suffered a significant setback in Bhadrak after many family members of veteran leader Prafulla Samal and several grassroots representatives switched to the BJP on Saturday.

During an induction ceremony at the BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar, Samal’s sons Prayas Kanti Samal and Praneet Kanti Samal, along with his sister Urmila Nayak, who also serves as Bhadrak Block Chairperson, officially joined the saffron party. The move came even as Prafulla Samal had recently been tasked by BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik to strengthen the party organisation in the district.

Along with them, three block chairpersons, 30 Sarpanches, 35 Samiti Members and over 100 Ward Members also resigned from the BJD and merged with the BJP, marking a major organisational s

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