Bhubaneswar: After quitting Biju Janata Dal (BJD), former Odisha MLA Purna Chandra Sethy joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state.
Sethy, who represented Khallikote Assembly constituency in Ganjam district, announced his resignation from BJD on Monday alleging that he was being sidelined by the Naveen Patnaik- led party.
The former legislator joined the saffron party in the presence of state BJP president Manmohan Samal, former state party chief Samir Mohanty and other senior leaders.
Describing BJP as a party with democratic principles, Sethy said he was feeling suffocated in BJD where one has to wait for months to have a glimpse of the party supremo.
Welcoming the ex-MLA, Manmohan Samal said the party will be further strengthened in Ganjam with the entry of Sethy and his followers.
It may be noted here that Sethy had represented Khallikote Assembly Constituency from 2009 to 2014 winning two consecutive elections. He was denied a ticket in the 2019 elections and was hopeful to get a ticket for 2024. However, he alleged of being sidelined by the Naveen Patnaik-led party.
Sethy’s resignation came a few days after BJD’s six-time MP from Cuttack Bhartruhari Mahtab resigned from the regional outfit. Earlier, BJD’s two sitting MLAs Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Naik had resigned from the ruling party and joined BJP.
