Koraput: Former minister and senior BJP leader Jayaram Pangi on Friday announced to quit the party in order to devote more time to development of Kotia panchayat in the district.
Announcing his decision to resign from BJP at a function organised on the occasion of Utkal Divas in Kotia, Pangi said he along with his supporters and local people had formed Dandakaranya Parbatmala Bikash Parishad on October 4 last year for development of Kotia panchayat.
“At the time, I had announced to resign from BJP to focus on activities of the Parishad. However, on the request of state president of the party, I did not resign in order to work during panchayat elections. Now that the panchayat polls are over, I announce my resignation from BJP,” Pangi said at the function.
He further said the Parishad will work for keeping the people of Koraput united to fight against divisive plans of Andhra Pradesh. “We will dissuade the people who want their areas to merge with Andhra and make them aware of the ill intention of the neighbouring state,” he added.
The former MP of Koraput had left BJD and joined the saffron party in 2017. Pangi has been elected as MLA for four times in his 45 years of political career. He had contested in Assembly election for first time from Patangi on Janata Party ticket in 1977.
