The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) received a double jolt on Tuesday after senior party leader and former MLA of Kakatpur Surendra Sethi and sitting BJD MLA from Anandapur Bhagirathi Sethy resigned from the party.
As per reports, along with Surendra Sethi, many sarpanchs and samiti members of Kakatpur also quit the party.
This time, the ruling party denied a ticket to Surendra Sethi, who was elected on a BJD ticket to the Odisha Assembly from Kakatpur seat in 2014.
Apart from Surendra Sethi, chairperson of Kakatpur block, Sridhar Nayak and chairperson of Astarang block Arati Nayak, several sarpanchs and samiti members also resigned from the party.
‘Assured of ticket, but ditched’
Venting his ire, Surendra Sethi lamented, "Getting along with BJD workers, I had been working for the party organisation. I was assured of the party ticket for the 2024 election, but the ticket was denied at the last moment. Thousands of party workers are hurt by this decision. I dedicatedly worked for the party and took thousands of party workers to any meeting in Kakatpur.”
Bhagirathi Sethy, who was elected on a BJD ticket from Anandapur twice in 2009 and 2019, resigned after he was denied a ticket this time. The party has fielded Abhimanyu Sethi this time.
'BJD ticket sold for crores'
“I was denied a ticket due to a conspiracy by a coterie. BJD tickets have been sold for crores of rupees. When the party sidelined me, I did not deem it right to stay in the party. I resigned from the party,” Bhagirathi Sethi fumed.
However, he said that he has not yet decided on his next course of action.