Veteran Odisha Leader Prasanna Patasani Now In BJP After Quitting BJD

Bhubaneswar: Veteran leader and five-time Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Kumar Patasani has finally joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after parting ways with Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The former Parliamentarian, who had visited Delhi earlier this month and met several senior leaders of BJP in the national capital, formally became part of the saffron party in the presence of Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Monday evening.

Several other BJD leaders and workers from Bhubaneswar Jaydev Assembly constituency also joined BJP at a programme at the office of Aparajita in the capital city.

Hitting out at BJD, Patasani said he had worked hard for years to build and strengthen the regional party but the organisation was ruined by the leadership.

Aparajita said Ptasani’s presence will go a long way in providing proper guidance to BJP in the state.

Patasani was stated to have visited Delhi after a senior BJP leader and new-elected MP from Odisha invited him to the national capital.

Though Patasani was keen to contest from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat again in the recent elections, the BJD fielded newbie Manmath Routray, son of veteran leader Suresh Kumar Routray, ignoring him. The former MP had met the party leadership at Naveen Niwas following the announcement.

There was also an indication that he will be fielded from the Chilika Assembly segment. However, his candidature met with stiff opposition from local leaders of Chilika.

Patasani had won the Bhubaneswar MP seat for five consecutive terms from 1998 to 2014.

After being denied ticket in 2019, Patasani had also claimed that the leadership had assured a Rajya Sabha berth for him. Though there were several opportunities before the party to nominate him to the upper house of Parliament, it never happened.

His son-in-law, Priyadarshi Mishra, has already switched sides to BJP and also contested the elections from Bhubaneswar-North but lost.