Jharsuguda BJP chief joins BJD a week ahead of bypoll

Bhubaneswar: The BJP suffered a major setback a week ahead of the May 10 Jharsuguda assembly byelection with its district president Mangal Sahoo joining the BJD on Wednesday.Sahoo was one of the 40 star campaigners named by the BJP for the upcoming bypoll, which may be the last before the next year’s simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.Sahoo was associated with the BJP for the past 25 years and held various organizational posts in Jharsuguda district. He said that he left BJP with a heavy heart as it was no more the party with same principles and ideals for which a worker like him stood for. “I have not joined the BJD for any personal ambition or assurance. I feel I can serve the people of Jharsuguda better after joining the BJD,” Sahoo said.BJD general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Manas Mangaraj said the party will benefit particularly in Jharsuguda with Sahoo’s joining. “It is part of a process where leaders across parties are joining the BJD because they are impressed with chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s leadership,” he said.Downplaying Sahoo’s desertion, state BJP president Manmohan Samal said the leaving of any individual will not affect the party in any way. “We are on the ground fighting for our ideals. It’s an individual’s decision to join or leave party. It will have no impact,” Samal said.Unhappy with not being given a ticket in the Brajarajnagar assembly byelection in May last year too, Sahoo had tendered resignation from the BJP district unit president’s post but the party had not accepted his resignation then. Sahoo is from a locality under Brajarajnagar assembly segment in Jharsuguda district.Mahendra Nayak, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 election from Jharsuguda on a Congress ticket, has recently joined the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, and Mini Crossword.