Bhupinder quits Cong, to join BJD?

Edited by Bijayashree Parida

Bhubaneswar: In a possible setback to Odisha Congress, which is making desperate attempts to bring the party to life ahead of the 2014 elections, senior leader Bhupinder Singh is rumoured to have quit the party and is willing to join the BJD.

Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Singh was reportedly disillusioned with the party for quite some time after his keenness to contest the forthcoming polls from Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat received no support from the high command.

Sources said he also developed rift with incumbent Kalahandi MP Bhakta Charan Das over the issue.

Even as Singh remained incommunicado throughout the day on Friday, his absence in the election screening committee meeting held in New Delhi further fuelled speculation about his resignation.

Moreover, OPCC president Jayadev Jena also failed to get in touch with the “rebelling” leader.

“I tried in vain to contact him (Singh) over phone. He could not talk as he was probably busy,” a seemingly nervous Jena said.

On the other hand, speculations in political circles are rife that Singh is in talks with the BJD in a bid to join hands with the ruling party.

BJD leaders are, however, not keen to speak on Singh’s likely entry to the party, at this point of time.

“Let him (Singh) first resign from the Congress and tell about his future course of action. We have no news (regarding his interest in joining the BJD),” party vice president and Panchayati Raj Minister Kalpataru Das said.

Notably, Singh is the sitting MLA of Narla constituency of Kalahandi district.