Odisha Elections 2024: Ex-MLA Kailash Chandra Kulesika joins BJP, alleges BJD tried to buy him

Former Laxmipur MLA Kailash Chandra Kulesika joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday after being denied ticket by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the upcoming 2024 General Elections.

Kulesika joined the saffron party in presence of State BJP President Manmohan Samal and other party officials. Laxmipur block BJD President Pramod Khara also joined the Opposition party along with hundreds of supporters.

The ruling party’s decision to repeat the sitting MLA from the Laxmipur Assembly constituency came as a blow for Kulesika as he had hoped to secure a nomination after joining the Conch party in 2021.

After joining the BJP fold, Kulesika slammed the ruling party. He also expressed his disappointment after being denied ticket by BJD.

“I joined BJD after the party promised me to give ticket for Laxmipur Assembly seat. However, they betrayed me,” said Kulesika.

Kulesika alleged that BJD assured him to give Special Development Council (SDC) and Rs 1 crore after the elections, but he denied it.

“People will give BJD a befitting reply for betraying me,” said the former legislator after joining the BJP.

Meanwhile, BJD is yet to respond to the allegations of Kulesika.

Notably, Kulesika contested as an independent candidate from Laxmipur Assembly seat in 2009 Vidhan Sabha elections. In 2014, he won the seat on Congress ticket but lost to BJD’s Prabhu Jani in 2019 by a slender margin of 229 votes.