Cuttack, Mar 22: In a major jolt to Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ahead of the 2024 general elections, senior BJD leader and Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab resigned from the primary membership of the regional party on Friday.

Briefing the media here this afternoon, Mahtab said, “I have sent my resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at 4 pm today.”

Mahtab, a six-time MP from the Cuttack Lok Sabha constituency and one of BJD's founder members, said he quit the party as he did not get ample opportunity to work freely in the BJD.

The veteran MP was awarded the ‘Sansad Ratna’ for four consecutive years from 2017 to 2020 for his outstanding performance in Parliament debates.

Yesterday, a special court in Cuttack framed charges against Mahtab under IPC Section 353 for assaulting a police officer on duty 13 years back.

Recently, three sitting BJD MLAs- Pradeep Panigrahi, Prashant Jagdev and Arabinda Dhali- joined the BJP.

Odisha will vote in the Lok Sabha elections and Assembly polls, which are being held simultaneously, in four phases. The polling will be held on May 13, 20, 25 and June 1.

The votes will be counted with the rest of the country on June 4.
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