Odisha Elections 2024: Ex-Minister Samir Dash Hops To BJP Ahead Of PM Modi’s Puri Roadshow

Bhubaneswar: Shortly after resigning from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) amid Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha, Nimapara MLA and former Minister Samir Ranjan Dash joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday.

The three-time legislator, who was reportedly unhappy following denial of BJD ticket for the 2024 elections, joined the saffron party at a special function in Bhubaneswar.

Senior leaders, including state BJP president Manmohan Samal and election in-charge for Odisha Vijay Pal Singh Tomar welcomed Dash into the national party.

Sources said, Dash tendered his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik conveying his decision to quit the primary membership of the regional party.

Dash was upset as his repeated requests to the BJD leadership to reconsider the decision to drop him went unheeded.

In a video message, Dash said that he worked sincerely for BJD since 2006 but now the leadership seemed to have lost confidence in him and the party organisations in Gop and Nimapara.

“Therefore, I resigned from the primary membership of the party today,” he said.

Notably, Dash won three consecutive Assembly polls in 2009, 2014, and 2019 from Nimapara constituency on BJD ticket. He has also served as the School and Mass Education Minister in the Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet.