Jashipur/Bahalda: With just a day left for the final phase of polls, the BJD received back-to-back jolts in Mayurbhanj district after former Jashipur MLA Kamalakant Nayak and frontline BJD leader Ishan Mishra of Rairangpur left the party and joined the BJP in the last 24 hours.
The joining of two leaders in the saffron party has dramatically changed the political equations in two important pockets in the district.
Talking to this correspondent, Ex-MLA Nayak, who joined the BJP Saturday, said the BJD has slipped into an undemocratic mess and indiscipline.
“Besides, the ruling party has neglected and sidelined me. I was forced to join the BJP,” Nayak said.
He joined the saffron party in the presence of party’s MP nominee for Keonjhar Ananta Nayak and other leaders like Rabinarayan Nayak, Narendranath Sahu, Krupasindhu Mohant, Bipin Mohant and Anshuman Sabuja Mohant.
The saffron party received a shot in its arm when Ishan Mishra, a frontline BJD leader from Rairangpur, left the BJD and joined BJP Friday along with hundreds of his supporters.
His joining the BJP, it is said, has dramatically changed the political equations in Rairangpur Assembly segment, just a few hours before the polls.
Mishra, who has been organising the BJD for the last two decades, was angry with the activities of the party observers in the district.
The party observers had sidelined him and his supporters, he said.
Political analysts say, Ishan and his supporters are a great asset to the BJP.
It was learnt that the political equations have fast changed in Bahalda, Tiring, Jamda and other important areas in Rairangpur Assembly segment.
Notably, a few days ago, alleging discrimination in ticket distribution, former MLA and BJD leader Biram Murmu had resigned from the party’s primary membership along with hundreds of his supporters.
Biram was elected MLA on a Congress ticket from Khunta Assembly seat in 1985.
PNN
