Puri: Former Puri municipality chairperson Jayanta Kumar Sarangi Thursday resigned from the primary membership of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over denial of party ticket for Satyabadi Assembly constituency.
Sarangi sent his resignation to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday.
Speculation is rife that Sarangi would join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contest from Puri Assembly segment on the saffron party’s ticket.
Speaking to media persons here, Sarangi said he has been working for the BJD since the foundation of the regional party in Odisha. “I have been with BJD for the last three decades. I have worked as the chairman of Puri municipality for five years. Now, I have realised that the regional party does not require me anymore. I have been forced to resign from BJD,” he added.
Sarangi claimed that he had strengthened BJD organisation in Satyabadi constituency. But, the BJD leadership did not consider his case while allotting party ticket for the segment.
“Puri MLA Maheswar Mohanty and some other BJD leaders have been opposing me for the last many days. They had created obstacles to many developmental projects launched during my tenure as municipality chairperson. However, the Opposition Congress and BJP had never raised any allegation against me,” Sarangi claimed.
Commenting on Sarangi’s allegations, Puri MLA and Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty said, “Sarangi has himself admitted that the BJP and Congress had no allegations against him. This spoke a lot about his tacit understanding with the Opposition parties.”
Notably, the BJD Wednesday nominated Umakant Samantray to contest from Satyabadi seat.