Suryakant Jena

Bhubaneswar: Amid rise in resentment over non-allotment of tickets to aspirants and continous exodus of leaders from the BJD, it seems the party president Naveen Patnaik will have a rough path ahead in pacifying the rising dissidence within the party. Adding to the exodus, Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh and Daspalla MLA Purna Chandra Nayak resigned from the primary membership of the BJD today giving big jolt to the party's prospects ahead of the crucial polls in the State.

A day after being denied ticket for re-contesting from her parliamentary segment, Pratyusha on Tuesday had declared that she would contest from Nayagarh Assembly Constituency but clarified that if denied, she would not back down from fighting as an independent candidate or from any other party.

However, tendering her resignation letter to party supremo, Pratyusha today said that injustice has been meted out to her inspite of her loyalty and dedication to the party and people.

In the letter, Pratyusha stated that despite being asked to stay prepared for the upcoming elections, the party did not grant her ticket. She questioned as to why she was not earlier informed about the decision that the party would not grant her ticket for the polls.

Protesting the decision as to why Bikram Arukh would have any say on her nomination from Kandhamal, she stated, "I am expected to work according to the party policies and directions and not according to orders of Bikram Arukh."

This apart, the Kandhamal MP alleged that after the death of her husband, Hemendra Chandra Singh, she has been contiously harrased with multiple legal cases by MLA Arun Sahu in the last four years.

"Though I have informed about it to the party several times, no action has been taken in this regard," Pratyusha stated in connection with the matter.

"A party that has been so vocal about women empowerment has failed miserably. My hard work and dedication have been rendered futile," she quoted in her letter.

In another significant development, BJD Daspalla MLA Purnachandra Nayak also quit the ruling-party today. Citing wrong decision by a particular group of influential persons, Nayak stated that decision to not allot him ticket is an injustice to thousands of backward and tribal people of his constituency.

Questioning the party's decision to grant ticket to Ramesh Behera, Nayak in his resignation letter to party president Naveen Patnaik, stated that the party has alloted ticket such a person to represent the constituency who himself has allegedly misappropriated around Rs 73,200, 541 meant for welfare of tribal and backward people.

"BJD has become a home to corrupt people more than those fighting corruption," Nayak stated in his letter.

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