Bhubaneswar: Former MLA Anubhav Patnaik on Friday filed nomination as independent candidate from Khandapada assembly seat at Nayagarh sub-collector office in Odisha.
This came a day after he resigned from the BJD after the party denied him ticket and instead fielded Sabitri Pradhan, who is chairperson of Bhapur block, from the seat.
His rebellion nearly eight months after the party expelled sitting MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik in the wake of an alleged loan fraud case can create serious trouble for the Conch party in Khandapada.
Anubhav had won from Khandapada in 2014 on BJD ticket but he had to make for Soumya five years later. Though peeved, he had continued with the party.
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Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Anubhav said that he had worked to ensure the victory of the MLA candidate by a huge margin despite being denied ticket in 2019. “I continued to work for the people of Khandapada as the MLA did a vanishing act after the polls. And I was hopeful of the ticket this time having strengthened the party organisation there,” he said.
He also alleged that Benudhar, husband of the MLA candidate, was engaged in ganja trade and is also an accused in the murder of former Bhapur block chairman Gurubari Kanhar. “The party has picked a candidate who has made no contribution to the party or the organisation at the grassroots,” he said, adding that his fight will now be for Khandapada and its development instead of a party.
