In yet another jolt to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), actor Arindam Roy, who was holding the post of the general secretary, resigned from the party’s primary membership on Friday. Arindam, who was the star campaigner of the BJD since 2014 elections, submitted his resignation to party supremo Naveen Patnaik.
Soon after tendering his resignation, Arindam joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amidst the ongoing alliance speculation.
Also Read: Ollywood actor & BJD leader Arindam Roy’s ‘Sankalp Samavesh’ creates flutter in Cuttack politics
Speaking to the media, Arindam said, “I assure that as a disciplined worker will try to take Odisha forward and fulfil the dreams of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Arindam further said, “Everybody is inspired and touched by the Prime Minister. I worked for long for the BJD and the functioning of the party is not up to the mark now. The working culture in the BJD has changed a lot and I felt that there is no scope for me to work there.”
According to Arindam, he joined the BJP as the party gave respect to him.
In his resignation letter, Arindam stated that he worked for the BJD since 2009 and was party’s star campaigner since 2014.
“I have been working at the ground level as observer in various elections in Cuttack, Tirtol, Titol byelections, Koraput. But with a heavy heart, I am sorry to say that my work has not yet been recognised by you or appointed members,” wrote Arindam. (SIC)
Arindam further wrote that he was trying to meet the party supremo but did not get the opportunity.
“Therefore, I feel I do not fit the criteria of meeting you, and my place in the party is nothing. So I resign from the post of general secretary and primary membership of the party,” the actor added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Arindam has been skipping various BJD programmes in the recent past. His meetings with Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other BJP leaders also raised speculations regarding his differences with the BJD.