BJD MLA Jitu Mitra joins BJP candidate Aparajita Sarangi's rally

On the last day of the campaigning for the third phase elections in Odisha, Khordha witnessed an interesting political development on Thursday after BJD MLA Jitu Mitra campaigned for the BJP MP candidate for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, Aparajita Sarangi. 

As per reports, when the rally was going on, the BJD leader joined in and campaigned with the two BJP leaders, leaving many perplexed. 

Jitu Mitra is the sitting Khordha MLA of the BJD. However, the ruling party denied a ticket to Mitra this time. Instead, Rajendra Sahu has been given a BJD ticket for the Khordha seat.  

Since then, Mitra had been grumbling and joined the BJP rally just before the third phase of elections. 

Speaking to the media, Jitu Mitra said, “The BJP is getting massive support from the people. A big change is going to happen. The proof is that I am in front of you."

Jitu contested as an Independent from this seat in 2000 and came out victorious. He got a BJD ticket in 2004 and was elected from the same seat. However, in 2014, he joined the BJP and contested on a BJP ticket. He was defeated by BJD’s Rajendra Sahu by a margin of 6597 votes. 

In 2019, he came back to the BJD and got elected.