Fresh Jolt For BJD In Odisha As Badamba Block Chairman, Others Quit Party & Join BJP

Bhubaneswar: In a fresh jolt for BJD in Odisha, chairman of Badamba block in Cuttack district Raghupati Mohanty resigned from the party and joined BJP along with his supporters on Monday.

Besides Mohanty, zilla parishad member from Maniabandh zone Nayana Sahoo also quit BJD and joined BJP together with several local leaders and workers at the state headquarters of the saffron party in Bhubaneswar. State BJP president Manmohan Samal welcomed the new entrants into the saffron party.

Sources said Mohanty earlier sent his resignation letter via email to BJD president Naveen Patnaik, informing that he was resigning from the primary membership of the regional party.

However, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) issued separate office orders signed by Naveen Patnaik expelling Mohanty and suspending Sahoo from the party for indulging in anti-party activities.

Following the development, BJD appears to be facing a major crisis, particularly in Cuttack district, with the resignation of Mohanty. In his resignation letter, Mohanty reportedly conveyed his feelings of redundancy within the party organisation.

“I find myself redundant and hence, I am tendering my resignation,” he said in the letter in Odia. Mohanty said he felt there is no need for his presence in the party any more.

Stating that he has been working tirelessly as an ideal worker for the development of his area for a long time, Mohanty said he has diligently carried out all the responsibilities given to him by the party. However, after all these years, he now felt unwanted in the party, he said.

Mohanty’s resignation has immense political significance for BJD in Badamba where the party has historically held a strong presence. Mohanty had played a significant role within the party in this area and was a close confidante of veteran BJD leader and former Minister Debi Prasad Mishra.