Clarifying accusations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worked to split the Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday said the saffron party would welcome "clean and strong" leaders from other parties if they show commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"We want to strengthen our party. Whoever is committed to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah are welcome to join us. We will welcome clean and strong leaders," Pradhan told reporters here.
There have been reports that a section of BJD leaders were inclined to split the party to join the BJP.
While Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik blamed the BJP for fuelling such "false" reports, the BJP instead blamed the internal discord within the regional party and maintained it had no role in it.
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