Bhubaneswar: Senior leader and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) state secretary Ajay Nayak joined Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.
After quitting BJD, Ajay joined the saffron party at the state BJP headquarters in Bhubaneswar in the presence of a host of senior leaders.
Soon after joining BJP, Ajay said he decided to quit the ruling BJD as there is no respect for democratic principles in the regional outfit where senior and hardworking leaders are sidelined. The ruling party has turned hollow with a weak organisation and is now depending on imported leaders to fight the upcoming elections.
It may be noted here that Ajay happens to be the maternal uncle of Chandabali MLA Byomakesh Ray. Ajay was upset over BJD nominating Byomakesh for the ensuing elections.
Senior BJP leaders, including former state party president Samir Mohanty, was present when Ajay joined the saffron party at a ‘Mishran Parba’
Also present on the occasion were Bhadrak BJP Lok Sabha candidate Abhimanyu Sethi, Dhamnagar MLA and candidate for the coming polls Suryabanshi Suraj, BJP’s state vice president Biranchi Tripathy, and party’s state secretary Saroj Kar.