Another Ollywood Star To Add Glitz To BJP’s Poll Campaign In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Adding glitz to the poll arena ahead of 2024 elections, the BJP is set to welcome another actor-turned-politician from Odisha into its fold on Monday.

According to sources, Kendrapada MP Anubhav Mohanty, who snapped ties with the BJD on March 30, is likely to be inducted into the saffron fold at a joining ceremony in New Delhi later in the day.

Former Berhampur MP Sidhant Mohapatra, former Korei MLA Akash Dasnayak and Arindam Ray, the former BJD general secretary and brother-in-law of organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das, are already in the saffron camp after resigning from the regional party.

Anubhav, who was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2014 on a BJD ticket, won Kendrapada Lok Sabha seat in 2019 by defeating BJP heavyweight Baijayant Panda by over 1.53 lakh votes. However, he soon drew flak for allegedly misbehaving with the media. His personal issues, including divorce and domestic abuse cases, apparently further dented his image, adversely affecting his political stick.

His long and bitter legal battle ended in December last year when the Orissa High Court granted him divorce from his estranged wife Varsha Priyadarshini, also an actor.

In his resignation letter, the Kendrapada MP wrote: “Despite my unwavering loyalty and deep admiration for you sir, who I have regarded as a fatherly figure, I’ve been grappling with undisclosed concerns that have made me feel suffocated over the past four years.”

Anubhav is the second sitting MP after Bhartruhari Mahtab to quit the BJD ahead of the 2024 polls. Bhartruhari joined the BJP recently.