Bhrugu Baxipatra on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of the BJP. "With a heavy heart, I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," he wrote in his resignation letter to State BJP chief Manmohan Samal.
"As a member for 23 years, I have put my best efforts for the growth of the Party in the state. I have executed every single responsibility that I was assigned, with utter sincerity and diligence. I am grateful to the Party for using my services to strengthen its organizational and political base in the state. However, lately, I have realized that the Party does not require me or my contribution any more," he said.
"Therefore, I have decided to move on. I will continue to serve the people of Odisha and work towards the development of our state...," he added.
Reportedly, Baxipatra was an aspirant for the BJP ticket for the Berhampur Lok Sabha seat. However, after being denied ticket, he decided to quit the party, said sources.
BJP has nominated Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy from Berhampur Lok Sabha seat. Panigrahy, a three-time MLA from Gopalpur who started his political career with BJD, joined the BJP recently after his expulsion from the ruling party in 2020.
Baxipatra had fought the 2019 general election as a BJP candidate for Berhampur LS seat, but he lost to BJD's Chandra Sekhar Sahu.
It is worth mentioning that Berhampur LS constituency in the home district of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik holds importance and the BJP wants to win the seat. The only time the BJP had won the Parliamentary seat was in 1999.