BJD MP in BJP, may get Kandhamal ticket

BJD Kandhamal MP Pratyusha Rajeswari Singh joined BJP on Saturday after quitting the party, becoming the third parliamentarian of the regional party to do so ahead of the simultaneous general and assembly elections in Odisha.

As BJP is yet to name its candidate for the Lok Sabha seat Singh, who was denied a BJD ticket, could be fielded from her own constituency.

The Kandhamal MP's joining BJP has surprised all as Odisha Pradesh Congess Committee had two days ago announced that the formal announcemnent of her joining the party would be made either on Saturday or Sunday.

BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had replaced her with Rajya Sabha MP Achyut Samant. Singh had raised her voice in revolt against the decision and had blamed certain party leaders for it.

She formally joined BJP at the residence of the BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo and in the presence of BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, state party president Basant Panda and union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"I joined BJP on being influenced by the working style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I would like to serve the people of Nayagarh and work as per the direction of the BJP leadership," Singh told reporters.

Before Singh, Nabarangpur BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi had joined the saffron and got a ticket to contest from his parliamentary constituency.

He was preceded by Kendrapara BJD MP Baijayant Panda, who has secured a BJP ticket from the seat.

Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari Deo too had resigned from BJD but has not joined any political party so far.