Former Deputy Speaker of Odisha Assembly Rama Chandra Panda on Thursday resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
The senior leader tendered his resignation letter to party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik citing ‘ticket denial’ as the reason behind his decision.
Panda at a Press conference at Brahmapur alleged that the BJD in Ganjam district is “under the total grip of two to three persons” and there is no space for any discussion about the organisation.
Panda was aspiring to become the BJD candidate for the Brahmapur Lok Sabha seat, for which, however, the party has nominated Bhrugu Baxipatra hours after he quit the BJP and joined the BJD.
Earlier, he had resigned from the post of advisor to the Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment Department on ethical grounds after the model code of conduct came into force for the general elections 2024.
Panda had joined the BJD in 2017 ahead of the panchayat elections after deserting the BJP.
Panda had started his political career with erstwhile Janata Dal. He was elected to Odisha Legislative Assembly in 2000 on a BJP ticket from Chhatrapur in Ganjam district. He was the Deputy Speaker from 2000 to 2004 during the BJD-BJP alliance. In the 2014 elections, he contested on a BJP ticket from Brahmapur as the MP candidate but secured the third position.
