Puri, May 19: In another jolt to Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) amid the ongoing general elections, former Minister and incumbent MLA from Nimapara, Samir Ranjan Dash resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday, days after being denied party ticket to contest the assembly polls.
According to sources, Dash sent his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
"I have been working for the Biju Janata Dal since 2006. Today, the BJD president has lost faith in me and the party's organisation in Gop and Nimapara... it is not appropriate for me to remain in the party. Hence I am resigning from the primary membership of the BJD," Dash said in a video message.
Dash, who won from the Nimapara seat thrice in a row in 2009, 2014 and 2019 on a BJD ticket, was denied the party ticket this time. Dillip Kumar Nayak, who recently joined BJD after resigning from BJP, was rewarded with the Nimapara ticket.
Later, the three-time legislator held a series of meetings with various segments of the constituency, including women, youth, and minority groups, garnering support for his electoral bid.
Dash was in the eye of a storm for his suspected role behind the suicide of BJD zilla parishad member Dharmendra Sahoo in September 2022. In the wake of the controversy, Samir had to step down as The School And Mass Education Minister in May 2023.
In the last two months, several BJD leaders including sitting MP and MLAs quit the BJD and joined the saffron party.
The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1.
Nimapara assembly segment under Puri Lok Sabha seat will vote on May 25.
The counting of votes will be held on June 4.
Read More Odisha News