Dilip Ray drops in at Naveen Niwas; drops big hint on joining BJD

Bhubaneswar: Amid speculations of joining BJD, former Rourkela MLA Dilip Ray today dropped in at Naveen Niwas, the residence of Odisha CM and BJD president, Naveen Patnaik further triggering discussions that he could join the ruling party as soon as tomorrow.

Ray had resigned from his MLA post and quit the primary membership of BJP along with senior leader Bijoy Mohapatra on November 30 last year. The former union minister had also made his intentions clear of not contesting 2019 general elections from the Rourkela Assembly constituency.

Ray had alleged that he quit the saffron party after being neglected by the party leadership and also due to the unfulfilled promises of a second bridge over river Brahmani and a super speciality hospital at Rourkela.

However, the BJP had instead accused Ray of staying away from party affairs for fulfilling personal interests.

Today's development led to rumours that Ray could be returning back to BJD where he was a founding member.

The two-time Rajya Sabha MP and union minister with important portfolios like steel, industries, coal and parliamentary affairs, Ray was expelled from BJD by party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over "anti-party'' activities in 2002.

Later he had successfully contested the assembly elections from Rourkela in 2014 on a BJP ticket.