Salepur MLA Prakash Behera Quits Congress

Bhubaneswar: Sitting Congress MLA of Salepur constituency in Odisha’s Cuttack district, Prakash Behera, on Saturday resigned from the primary membership of the party.

In a letter to Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Behera said that after remaining in the party for the past 20 years, he decided to quit as he was ignored by the state party leadership. Besides, he said, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president did not pay heed to his allegations. If sources in political circles are to be believed, Behera is most likely to join the BJP soon.

Behera had been contemplating resignation from the primary membership of the party. The Congress leader had discussed this with his supporters. He had hinted at this during a recent padyatra in his constituency, devoid of the party flag and banners.

It was earlier being speculated that Behera could join the ruling BJD. But BJD leader Pratap Jena brought all speculation to rest two days ago when he announced at a party meeting in his Mahanga constituency that Prasant Behera would be the BJD candidate from Salepur.