Unhappy with ticket distribution, leaders continue to desert BJD

Bhubaneswar: At a time when general polls are a few days away, exodus from BJD continues unabated. Former Balasore district Yuva Biju Janata Dal president Jajati Das and ex-MLA Viram Murmu on Monday resigned from the party expressing their dissatisfaction over the ticket allotment.

Alleging that BJD is neglecting party activists who have been working for it long time, Das said the party has deviated from its principles and therefore he has decided to quit the party.

"Activists and leaders who have been working for BJD for long are not being promoted in the party. Instead, people accused of chit fund scam and land mafia are getting party tickets," he stated adding that the Balasore MP has been re-nominated to get a ticket despite being involved in the chit fund scam.

BJD has become the coterie of people involved in chit fund scam and land mafia, rued Das, who had been associated with the party for past 20 years.

Meanwhile, opposing the party's decision to field Sudam Marandi from Bangiriposi Assembly constituency, former MLA Viram Murmu has resigned from the party. He said he has sent the resignation letter to BJD president Naveen Patnaik.

"As the party did not look into our demands, I have resigned along with my supporters from the primary membership of the party," added Murmu.