Paralakhemundi: BJP state vice-president and president of the party’s Gajapati district unit, Bharat Paika, on Monday resigned from the primary membership of the party and filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate from the Mohana Assembly seat.
In a letter to the party’s state president Basant Panda, Paika expressed his displeasure over the party leadership not considering him as the candidate from the Mohana Assembly seat.
Claiming to be a dedicated and disciplined party worker who has worked hard to strengthen the party’s base in the district, Paika said the party, instead of recognising his efforts, had ditched him and workers of Gajapati district.
Paika had contested from Mohana in 2014 but lost to BJD candidate Basanti Mallick by 3,381 votes.
Notably, the BJP has fielded Prasant Mallick as its candidate for the Mohana seat.
