Panigrahi, who was once a close aide of the chief minister, had also worked as his representative in Hinjili assembly segments for years. The party expelled him from the BJD following his alleged involvement in the job scam.
The opposition BJP took political mileage out of it and attempted to tarnish Patnaik's image by raising questions as to how the chief minister allowed such an "anti-people" leader to work with him.
Das also asked the party rank and file to take chief minister Naveen Patnaik's good works to the doorstep of each person in the state.
The regional outfit considers Patnaik's clean image as the party's USP (unique selling proposition) of the BJD, which has won five consecutive general elections under the chief minister's leadership.