Bhubaneswar: The exodus of leaders from Congress ahead of elections in Odisha continued on Friday with vice-president Biswabhusan Das resigning from the post and primary membership of the party.
He, however, cited no reason for snapping ties with the party.
“I thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve the nation and my state for 29 years with passion and dedication,” he wrote in his resignation letter to Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Sarat Pattanayak.
Biswabhusan is the second OPCC vice-president after Rajat Choudhary to quit the party.
Biswabhusan had unsuccessfully contested the 2009 and 2019 elections from Kakatpur Assembly constituency on Congress ticket. He also served as Youth Congress vice president and OPCC general secretary. The Congress, which released its first list of 49 candidates for Assembly seats on April 2, is yet to declare nominee from Kakatpur.
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Speculation is rife that he might join the BJP.
On Thursday, Arindam Sarkhel, also known as Bapi Sarkhel, resigned from all posts, including primary membership of the grand old party. This came days after his wife Monideepa Sarkhel joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) along with her supporters, including vice-chairperson of Paradip municipality Chhabilata Rout.
Chiranjib Biswal, a former MLA and son of Congress stalwart Basant Kumar Biswal, snapped ties with the grand old party, on March 30 and joined the BJD along with former state general secretary Ajay Ketan Samal and ex-secretary Jogendra Bahubalendra.
On March 19, Khariar MLA Adhiraj Mohan Panigrahi resigned from the Congress and joined the BJD the day after. Three-time former Congress MLA and ex-minister Surendra Singh Bhoi joined BJD on March 29, a day after quitting the party. He got a ticket on April 3 to contest as BJD candidate from Balangiri Lok Sabha seat.
The party had received a major setback in February when former MLA Anshuman Mohanty (Rajnagar) quit the Congress on February 14 and joined BJD two days later. He has nominated as BJD MP candidate for Kendrapada.
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