"Adikanda Sethi has joined Biju Janata Dal and his entry will be of great help to our regional party," Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik told reporters soon after Sethi joined his party.
Sethi said he took the step as he felt neglected in CPI which "ignored his proposals".
Sethi was yesterday suspended from CPI on disciplinary grounds and for allegedly trying to get the BJD ticket for the ensuing Assembly elections.
"Sethi has been suspended for breach of discipline, lack of confidence in the party and objectionable relation with the ruling party," CPI state unit secretary Dibakar Nayak had said here.