After Quitting BJP, Ashok Panigrahi Throws His Weight Behind BJD Candidate In Bijepur Bypoll

Bijepur: A day after resigning from BJP, senior leader Ashok Panigrahi on Sunday said he would support BJD candidate Rita Sahu during the Bijepur bypoll slated for October 21.

“To ensure development in Bijepur, I will lend support to the ruling party candidate,” he said, adding that he will also campaign for the BJD candidate.

Panigrahi had won 2000 general elections from Bijepur assembly segment on BJP ticket. He later joined the ruling BJD. He left the regional party in 2014 after being denied ticket to contest the election and returned to the saffron party during Bijepur bypoll in 2018. He contested the bypoll but lost to BJD candidate Rita Sahu.

The BJP ignored him during 2019 elections and reposed faith in Gartia even for the bypoll.

Panigrahi earlier complained of being ignored in the saffron party and later resigned.