Former Odisha MLA Sunanda Das Joins BJP A Week After Quitting BJD

Bhubaneswar: A week after resigning from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), former Odisha MLA Sunanda Das has joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

Her husband Debendra Kumar Das also joined the saffron party in the presence of state BJP president Manmohan Samal and other senior leaders in Bhubaneswar.

It may be noted that Sunanda, former MLA from Bari in Jajpur district, had quit BJD last week making serious allegations against the regional party and its leaders.

After resigning from BJD, the former legislator had alleged that officers distributed party tickets during the 2024 twin elections in Odisha.

“We (ticket aspirants) were told to meet D S Kutey and Ashish Singh for ticket. I had met them and was also assured of party ticket,” she had told a local channel. He and Singh were also accused of unduly interfering in the election process in the state.

Sunanda, who had won from Bari in 2019 by over 4000 votes, was denied ticket in 2024 Assembly polls. “Thereafter, I had met V K Pandian at Naveen Niwas, who said that he was not involved in ticket distribution in Jajpur district. He then asked me to work for the former CM, who was then contesting from Kantabanji, which I reluctantly did since I had decided not to visit Bari after being denied ticket,” she had said.

She attributed her decision to quit BJD to being neglected in the party. “I have not been asked to attend any of the functions and events being organised in the party office, Sankha Bhawan, and Naveen Niwas for the last 5 months,” she said.