New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Former Union Minister and four-time MP from Odisha, Srikant Jena Wednesday rejoined the Indian National Congress at the AICC headquarters in the presence of Ajoy Kumar, Odisha in-charge.

Addressing the media after formally rejoining the party, Srikant Jena said that it was a pleasure for him to be back in Congress and he had always remained a Congressman.

The former Union Minister said that all differences and misunderstandings between him and the party have been sorted out and he will now work to strengthen the party in Odisha.

While attacking the BJP and the ruling BJD government, Jena said, “Both the BJP and BJD are in an open alliance and this is not hidden. I am sure the people of Odisha will defeat them and Congress will expose this unholy alliance”.

“We will be fighting for the injustice in the state. The SC, ST, and OBC constitute 94 percent of the population in Odisha and they don’t have a say in the whole hierarchy of the political system. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra undertaken by Rahul Gandhi ji is to fight this injustice. For social justice caste census is the need of the hour," he said.

While replying to a question whether he would be the face of the party for the state of Odisha, Jena said, “The priority at present is to expose the BJD government in the state. On being a party face of the state, it will be the Congress that will make a decision, I am not here to decide."

Meanwhile, Ajoy Kumar said, “There is only one opposition party in the state and it is the Congress as BJP and BJD are in an alliance. Odisha is always a Congress state."

He also said that the Congress family was expanding as many leaders were joining the party and many would be in the coming days.

The return of Srikant Jena into the party fold comes at a time when the Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly elections are just months away.

Srikant Jena is the second senior leader from Odisha to rejoin the Congress after Giridhar Gamang along with his family returned to his parent party in January.