Former CMD of Nalco Tapan Kumar Chand and five ex-servicemen on Wednesday joined the opposition Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha ahead of the elections for the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly.

BJP Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal greeted Chand and others who joined the saffron party here. "I welcome Mr Chand and some ex-servicemen to the party. Their presence will strengthen the BJP in Odisha," Samal said.