In a setback to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its former Odisha chief Bimbadhar Kuanr Monday joined the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal.

 

 Kuanr, 65, met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence and said he had joined the BJD. A three-term legislator, Kuanr was the state BJP president from 1993 to 1995.

 

 He was also the state's labour and employment minister from 2000 to 2002 and minister of state education from 2002 to 2004. Kuanr said he decided to quit because he was facing humiliation in the BJP. Patnaik said Kuanr would be a tremendous asset to the BJD.

 

 The latest development comes two days after two legislators of the Congress, including leader of opposition in the assembly Bhupinder Singh, joined the BJD.