Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Former Odisha Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik today joined the Indian National Congress (INC). Patnaik formally joined the INC at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of INC president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Patnaik who was once close to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after his superannuation in 2013 had joined as chairman of Odisha Staff Selection Commission. Later he was appointed as Member of Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC). In April 2015 he resigned from OHRC.
After resigning from OHRC he had joined the Vedanta Group as the project head of the controversial proposed Vedanta University project. Later he had resigned from Vedanta in 2017.
Reportedly, on being asked why he joined the Congress, Patnaik said that he has joined the Congress for its liberal values.
