Jay Panda  

Kendrapara is extremely significant for the Biju Janata Dal because Odisha Chief Naveen Patnaik's father Biju Patnaik, the man after whom the BJD party was named, was elected thrice from that seat. 

BJP president Amit Shah giving Panda such a significant responsibility within four days of joining the party shows that he is totally banking big on the former BJD leader

Panda’s entry in the party is likely to give boost to BJP’s prospects in the state, which sends 21 MPs to the Parliament. The BJP won 157 seats in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from five Hindi heartland states, i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan — 55% of its total tally of 282.

Baijayant 'Jay' Panda, who fell apart with the BJD chief and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik, had recently indicated his willingness to join the BJP. Panda had said that he would join anybody who is 'committed to tackling the severe problems that Odisha now faces'.