Lulu Mohapatra's relatives joining BJP 'vertical split' of Congress in Odisha: BJP

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday welcomed the brother and daughter of late Congress leader Lulu Mohapatra into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and called it a "vertical split" of Congress in Odisha.

Late Congress leader's brother, Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and daughter, Upasana Mohapatra, joined BJP in a massive public meeting in Bhubaneswar, in the presence of Pradhan, who welcomed them to BJP fold.

"It is vertical split of Congress in Odisha. The younger element of Congress Party, the fighting spirit or fighting group in Congress party openly mentioned that in public meeting also that they joined BJP reposing their faith in the Prime Minister," Pradhan told reporters.

Lulu's parallel organisation network Lulu Sena's workers from across Odisha also joined the saffron party.

"The senior leaders and intellectuals are joining BJP, which is a good sign in Odisha. I think their presence will help us in big way," Pradhan remarked.

Upasana alleged that her father was meted out injustice while he was in Congress, which led her to take the decision.

"My father served the Congress Party for 32 years but he has received only injustice. Due to that we have become helpless to take this decision," Mohapatra told ANI, and added, "One can't deny that BJP is working hard and how much it has been successful."

Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, popular referred as Lulu Mohapatra, was a popular Congress leader in Odisha. A three time MLA in 1995, 2000 and 2004, he passed away in November 2016.