Former MLAs join BJD ahead of Odisha Assembly elections
Bhubaneswar: In
a major setback for the Odisha units of BJP and Congress, the parties’ senior
leaders and former MLAs joined the state ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) here on
Sunday.
According to reports, former Bissam-Cuttack MLA and BJP leader Sarangdhar Kadraka joined the conch party along with hundreds of his supporters in the presence of Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik at the Naveen Nivas.
Sarandhar was elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly twice in 1990 and 2000 on Janata Dal and BJD tickets respectively. However, he had joined the BJP in 2014 and unsuccessfully contested the last election.
The two-time legislator’s decision to switch over to the BJD came after he was not given a ticket by the saffron party to contest the upcoming state assembly election.
Likewise, former Bargarh MLA and Congress leader Sadhu Nepak also joined the regional party along with his supporters.
Welcoming the former legislators, the BJD supremo said that their joining will strengthen the state ruling party in their respective areas.
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