Former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and three-time MLA Pravat Ranjan Biswal formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a special induction programme in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, 12 July, ending prolonged speculation about his political future. The ceremony took place at the state BJP headquarters and was attended by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and state BJP president Manmohan Samal.

How Biswal Arrived at the BJP

Biswal made a show of strength at the induction, arriving at the BJP headquarters alongside a large contingent of supporters in a rally procession. His political journey spans over two decades: he was first elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the Choudwar-Cuttack constituency in 2004 as an Independent candidate, before joining the BJD and retaining the seat in 2009 and 2014 on the regional party's ticket.

His relationship with the BJD, however, grew turbulent well before his formal exit. He was suspended from the party over alleged involvement in a 2012 'midnight operation' purportedly aimed at unseating then Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik — a suspension later revoked. Most recently, BJD president Patnaik expelled Biswal again in February 2025 over allegations of anti-party activities, after Biswal publicly voiced dissatisfaction with the party's candidate selection for the Rajya Sabha elections.

The Legal Cloud Over Biswal

Biswal's political career has been shadowed by his alleged role in the multi-crore Seashore chit fund scam. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested him in connection with the case in 2017, and he was denied a BJD ticket for the 2019 Assembly elections as a consequence. In a recent setback, the Orissa High Court declined to quash CBI proceedings against him and directed the Special CBI Court in Bhubaneswar to complete the trial within six months.

Notably, despite Biswal's legal troubles, his son Souvic Ranjan Biswal is the sitting MLA from the Choudwar-Cuttack constituency, giving the family continued political presence in the region.

What the BJP Leadership Said

Chief Minister Majhi extended a warm welcome to the new entrants at the programme. 'Today, another glorious chapter has been added to the BJP's journey of victory in Odisha,' Majhi said. 'A popular leader from the politically significant Kataka (earlier Cuttack) district, Pravat Ranjan Biswal, joined the BJP today. Along with him, his supporters also joined the party, inspired by the BJP's policies, ideology and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.'

Majhi added that Biswal's induction would strengthen the BJP organisation not only in the Choudwar Assembly constituency but across Cuttack district. Biswal, in turn, thanked Majhi and Samal for the opportunity, pledging to work as a dedicated party worker focused on building the organisation.

What This Means for Odisha Politics

Biswal's switch is the latest in a series of defections from the BJD since the party's electoral defeat in Odisha. The BJP, now in power in the state, has actively courted regional heavyweights to consolidate its hold, particularly in districts like Cuttack that were traditional BJD strongholds. This comes amid a broader erosion of the BJD's organisational base following Patnaik's exit from power. With a sitting MLA already in the family and Biswal's grassroots network in Cuttack, the BJP gains both symbolic and structural ground ahead of future electoral cycles.