Odisha Elections 2024: Former Sambalpur MP Joins Congress After Quitting BJD

Angul: Former Sambalpur MP Nagendra Kumar Pradhan has joined the Congress after resigning from the primary membership of the ruling BJD.

He was inducted into the grand old party in the presence of party’s state in-charge Ajoy Kumar on Thursday.

“We are happy to welcome Nagendra ji who is a person with a clean image. He will help strengthen the party in Sambalpur and the entire region,” said Ajoy Kumar, while questioning denial of ticket to him by BJD from Sambalpur.

The BJD has fielded its organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das from the parliamentary constituency and Sambalpur is expected to witness a big battle with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also in the fray as the BJP candidate. Dulal Chandra Pradhan is the Congress nominee from the seat.

Nagendra said he believes in Congress’ ideology and the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge and will work for the party selflessly.

The former MP had made a foray in electoral battle as CPI-M’s MLA candidate from Athamallik and won the seat in 1990. He won from the same Assembly segment again in 2000 and 2004 on BJD ticket. He was then elected to the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014 from Sambalpur LS seat.

After being denied ticket in 2019, he was hopeful of earning a nomination for the upcoming elections. But that never came through, leading to his decision to quit the party, the sources added.