Naba Das quits party to join BJD

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Bhubaneswar: In a big setback to the Congress ahead of elections in the state, state Working president Naba Kisore Das Wednesday resigned from the party to join the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
Das, a sitting MLA from Jharsuguda Assembly constituency, resigned from the primary membership of the party and also as the state working president.
In a letter to All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi, Das said he was resigning from the Congress to join the ruling BJD. He is likely to join BJD January 24, a day before the scheduled visit of Gandhi to Odisha.
A two-time legislator Das, however, has not resigned from the membership of the Odisha Assembly, election to which is slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls this year.
In the letter, Das apologised for resigning from the party.
A copy of the resignation letter was also sent to Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik and All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Odisha, Jitender Singh.
Das said he would join the ruling BJD to take forward the developmental activities in his Jharsuguda constituency.
Das said he has resigned from the Congress following requests by voters of Jharsuguda who want the area to be developed.
“I don’t have any complaints against Niranjan Patnaik, president, PCC, Odisha. I have a very cordial relationship with him… I apologise for this resignation… I should join hands with Naveen Patnaik (for development),’’ he said in the letter.
Two days ago, when Das indicated that he would quit the Congress, Niranjan Patnaik had said it would not affect the poll prospects of the party.
Das is a popular leader in Jharsuguda district. He had defeated BJD candidates in 2009 and 2014 Assembly elections. He is also credited with ensuring Congress victory during the 2017 zilla parishad elections in Jharsuguda.
Of the nine zilla parishad seats in Jharsuguda district, Das had ensured victory of Congress candidates in eight.
Niranjan Patnaik wrote on Twitter, “As I had clarified to media, news like this does pain me. But, in hindsight, I think this is good for us. People who are not committed to the ideology & treat politics as commercial activity are doing great service to us by quitting.”