Former Odisha Minister Raghunath Mohanty Quits BJP Ahead Of Elections

Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha Minister Raghunath Mohanty, who had quit Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019, resigned from the saffron party on Saturday.

As per reports, Mohanty sent his resignation letter to Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal.

“I do hereby inform you that I and my family members tendered resignation from the primary membership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with immediate effect,” he said in his letter.

Mohanty told reporters that he decided to quit BJP as its leaders in Balasore have weakened to such an extent that it is impossible to work with them.

“There is a vast difference of ideologies between BJP and me. So, it became impossible for me to remain in the party anymore,” he said.

On his next move, the former Minister said he will consult his relatives, well-wishers and supporters before deciding the future course of action.

A five-time MLA from Basta in Balasore district, Mohanty had contested the 2019 elections from Basta Assembly constituency as a BJP candidate but lost to BJD’s Nityananda Sahoo.

Mohanty was first elected to the state Assembly from Basta under Lok Sabha Constituency in 1990 Elections ticket. He retained the seat in 1995, 2000, 2004 and 2009 elections.

He was removed from the party following his arrest in a dowry torture case slapped by his daughter-in-law Barsa Sony Choudhury. Later, he was taken back into the party in 2017.