Officers Distributed BJD Tickets, Says Ex-Bari MLA Sunanda Das After Quitting Party

Bhubaneswar: A day after resigning from BJD, former Bari MLA Sunanda Das on Wednesday 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 told a local channel.

Kutey were considered part of the powerful coterie that called the shots in Odisha during the latter part of 24-year Naveen Patnaik rule, which ended in June 2024. 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 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.

She claimed that problem started after BJD welcomed former BJP leader Biswaranjan Mallick, who is the current BJD legislator from Bari, into its fold. The district collector also ignored her, she alleged.

Sunanda also targeted BJD organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das over ticket denial. “He was responsible for it. This despite the fact that he had promised me the ticket. He had then claimed that he is the son of Ashok Das and would never backstab anyone,” she said.

The former MLA said that ignoring party leaders cost the BJD in the polls. “Had Naveen Patnaik distributed tickets, he would won the polls and become the CM again,” she added.