Sidelined Odisha's MP Baijayant Jay Panda quits ruling BJD amid rifts with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
Sidelined Odisha Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Jay Panda today announced his exit from Odisha's ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD), a move that was in the making after a bitter falling out with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Panda announced his walkout from BJD in a letter to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying, “It's with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the politics into which our BJD has descended.”
Jay Panda wrote in a letter to Naveen Patnaik, adding that he would convey his decision to the Lok Sabha Speaker, reported ANI.
Panda, the MP from Kendrapara and a known critic of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was suspended from the BJD for allegedly "weakening" the party in January this year, according to PTI.
"With "deep anguish, hurt and sorrow" @PandaJay quits BJD, will separately formally write to Hon' Speaker to resign from the Lok Sabha" tweeted, office of Jay Panda
With "deep anguish, hurt and sorrow" @PandaJay quits BJD, will separately formally write to Hon' Speaker to resign from the Lok Sabha pic.twitter.com/eR24xbDGS3
— Office of Jay Panda (@mp_office) May 28, 2018
On 3 May, Panda found himself in trouble when a sub-divisional judicial magistrate's court in the Kendrapada district of the state directed the police to file a criminal case against him on charges of submitting a "false" affidavit for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, reported The Times of India.
Mr Panda has been a parliamentarian of the BJD since 2000 and among the most prominent leaders from Odisha. He was suspended by the party in January on "disciplinary grounds."
First published: 28 May 2018, 13:26 IST