Odisha Elections 2024: Former Khallikote MLA Purna Chandra Sethy joins BJP hours after quitting BJD

Hours after quitting the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Purna Chandra Sethy, the former MLA of Khallikote in Ganjam district, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. He cited being sidelined by the party as the reason for his departure.

“BJP is a party of democratic setup. So I have joined this party. I was suffocating in BJD. We needed a prior appointment to meet that one person (hinting at Naveen Patnaik). We were made to wait for days together to get a glance of him. So, you all understand which party stands for democracy and which party for autocracy. I don’t want to say anything further,” Sethy said after joining BJP.

“Former MLA Purna Chandra Sethy has joined our party with his councillors. I welcome him to our party and wish him the best ahead,” said state BJP President Manmohan Samal.

Worth mentioning, Sethy had represented Khallikote Assembly Constituency as an MLA from 2009 to 2014. He was denied a ticket in the 2019 elections and was hopeful to get a ticket for 2024. However, he alleged of being sidelined by the Naveen Patnaik-led party.

Sethy's resignation came a few days after BJD’s six-time MP Bhartruhari Mahtab quit the party. Also, BJD’s two sitting MLAs Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Naik resigned from the party and joined BJP.