Former Odisha Minister Premananda Nayak, Ex-MLA Rajendra Das & Others Join BJP Ahead Of Twin Polls

Bhubaneswar: In a shot in the arm for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, Telkoi MLA and former Minister Pramenanda Nayak and former legislator Rajendra Das joined the saffron outfit on Monday.

Nayak, who had recently resigned from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), and Das joined BJP at the state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar along with their supporters.

While Nayak had quit BJD alleging neglect and disrespect, former Dhamnagar MLA Rajendra Das’s association with BJD had soured after denial of party ticket in the last by-election to the constituency.

They joined BJP at a special programme in the presence of senior party leaders, including state president of the saffron party Manmohan Samal.

The entry of these senior leaders appeared to have further strengthened BJP after five-time MLA and former Minister Arabinda Dhali and several others joined BJP on Sunday.

Premananda Nayak, who had resigned from primary membership of BJD recently, won the assembly election in 2009 and 2019 as the ruling party nominee. Nayak has served Skill Development and Technical Education Minister.

Similarly, Rajendra Das was elected to the Assembly on a BJD ticket in 2014. After being denied a ticket in Dhamnagar bypoll, he had contested as an independent candidate creating ripples in the ruling BJD.