Putting all speculations to rest, former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang and his son Shishir Gamang on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Gamang, who was elected as MP from Koraput district nine times, has sent his resignation letter to BJP's National President JP Nadda.
“I joined BJP voluntarily, at my freewill, without precondition in 2015. I realised that I am unable to discharge my political, social and moral duty to the people of Odisha and hence tendering resignation from the primary membership of the party,” Gamang wrote.
Giridhar Gamang further said that he is grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, the then President of the party, for clarifying on the floor of the Parliament on his voting in 1999.
Citing reasons behind his decision to quit BJP, Giridhar Gamag said that, “Insult on road is tolerable in politics but not humiliation. I have never tolerated humiliation and will continue to do the same.”
According to the senior leader who quit the Congress party to join the BJP in 2015, there were several instances in BJP where he and his son Shishir Gamang were humiliated ‘intentionally’.
“With a heavy heart I am resigning from BJP. I will be soon joining a national party and whatever work is assigned to me, will discharge it with dedication,” said Giridhar Gamang.
Giridhar’s son Sishir stated that, “We were intentionally sidelined in the party and given late information about activities and meeting. I was promised MP ticket but later given MLA ticket from Gunupur. But I did not get support from the leaders at ground.”
Shishir further alleged that despite raising various issues both at state and national level, no prominence was given on their grievances for better functioning of the party at ground level.
It is pertinent to mention here that both Giridhar Gamang and his son had recently called on Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao fuelling speculations that they might join the Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
On Tuesday, former lawmaker from Koraput, Jayaram Pangi also announced that he will be joining the Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s political party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). Pangi will join the BRS in Hyderabad on January 27.
(Reported by Harihar Chand, OTV)