The ruling BJD's fort is crumbling and the party has realised it, said Bhartruhari Mahtab BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for the prestigious Cuttack seat. Bhartruhari on Sunday was accorded a grand welcome at Bhubaneswar airport. He was officially announced as BJP's nominee for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat.
The six-time Cuttack MP recently quit the ruling BJD after expressing displeasure over the party's functioning and affairs.
"It is time for a change. BJD's fort is crumbling and the party has realised this. This change will happen in June 2024 and it will be proved by the people," said Bhartruhari after his arrival in Bhubaneswar.
Bhartruhari Mahtab had joined the BJP on Thursday. Along with Bhartruhari, former BJD MP Siddhant Mohapatra and noted litterateur Padma Shri Damayanti Beshra also joined the BJP at party headquarters in Delhi
The son of Odisha’s former Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahtab, Bhartruhari has been representing the prestigious Cuttack Parliamentary seat since 1998. He had also been BJD’s floor leader in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019.
He emerged victorious as a Parliamentarian for successive six times in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019. No comments could be obtained from the BJD over Mahtab's comments.