Pradeep Pattanayak

A four-time Biramitrapur MLA, George Tirkey is all set to throw in his lot with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The tribal leader announced it during an exclusive interview with OTV on Thursday. 

“I was Rourkela District Congress Committee president for around three years. The way I was ditched, it forced me to quit the party. There (in Congress) nobody is serious about the party’s condition. It is in the doldrums,” Tirkey spewed venom against the grand old party. 

“For me to join the BJP and Congress, the doors are shut. The only option left is the BJD. I am not in two minds regarding joining the BJD provided offer should come from their side,” he added.

Going to say about the possibility of his joining the conch party, Tirkey said, “I have been in touch with the leaders. They may take a decision after the Padampur by-election. If that doesn’t happen, I have nothing to lose as I am independent.”

When asked about his son Rohit Joseph Tirkey, the senior Tirkey said he (Rohit) would follow his father’s step and join the BJD. 

Notably, George had been a JMM leader. He had won the Biramitrapur Assembly seat in 1995 and 2000 on JMM ticket. In 2009 and 2014, he had contested and won the same seat as an independent candidate and Samata Kranti Dal nominee respectively. 

In 2002, he left the JMM to join the BJD. In 2014, he had founded his own party Samata Kranti Dal. He had then joined the Congress in 2018 and unsuccessfully contested from Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat in 2019.

 

(Reported by Pawan Tiwari from Rourkela)
 

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