Bhubaneswar: In a fresh jolt to BJD amidst the twin polls in Odisha, Nimapara MLA and former Minister Samir Ranjan Dash resigned from the ruling party.
On Sunday morning, he joined BJP and said the saffron party will win with a large margin in upcoming elections, impacting both Nimapara and parts of Jagatsinghpur district.
The three-time legislator was reportedly unhappy following denial of ticket to contest the 2024 elections.
Sources said Dash tendered his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik conveying his decision to quit the primary membership of the regional party.
In a video message, Dash said that he worked sincerely for BJD since 2006 but now the leadership seemed to have lost confidence in him and the party organisations in Gop and Nimapara. “Therefore, I resigned from the primary membership of the party today,” he said.
Notably, Dash won three consecutive Assembly polls in 2009, 2014, and 2019 from Nimapara constituency on BJD ticket. He has also served as the School and Mass Education Minister in the Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet.
However, the regional party denied him ticket this time and nominated Dilip Nayak, who had recently switched over from BJP, in Nimapara.
Thereafter, Dash had organised several public meetings to showcase his influence in the constituency.
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