Former MLA Sidhartha Sekhar Singh quits BJD

Bhubaneswar: Former BJD MLA from Khandapada Sidhartha Sekhar Singh resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday.

Singh sent his letter of resignation to BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

“During my tenure as MLA of Khandapada, BJD had won the NAC, block, and panchayat elections. Though the party high command had not taken my name into consideration for the Assembly elections in 2014, I had still extended my wholehearted support to the BJD during the elections and never challenged the party as a rebel candidate. Besides, during Kandhamal Lok Sabha poll, I had also gone to Raikia to campaign for the party as per the directive of the party supremo. But after the Kandhamal polls, the party has never asked me to attend party meeting either at the constituency or district level. After being ignored by the party for last two years, I realised that, may be, my services are not required by the party anymore,” Singh told the media.

He said he has never indulged in any anti-party activities.

“I have never organised any meeting with any other party other than the BJD. Had I done this, it would have taken as anti-party activity. Since the ruling party does not need my services anymore, it is high time for me to quit the party gracefully. In my resignation letter which I have forwarded to the chief minister, I have thanked him for supporting me and the people of my constituency”, Singh added.

Notably, Singh was the MLA of Khandapada from 1999 to 2004.