Ex-BJD MLA resigns from party

Former MLA from Khandapada constituency Siddharth Sekhar Singh today resigned from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal expressing displeasure over not being given due importance in the party.
"I have already sent my resignation to the BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik. I have thanked the party president for the cooperation I enjoyed during my tenure as an MLA," Singh told reporters.
Singh was elected from the Khandapada Assembly segment in 2009 and remained a member of Odisha Legislative Assembly till 2014.
However, he was not given party ticket in 2014 and was replaced by Anubhav Patnaik.
"I have never taken up any anti-party activities all along," Singh said in the letter to Patnaik, adding that he had sincerely worked for the BJD during by-elections in Kandhamal Lok Sabha segment last year.

BJD spokesman P K Deb said resigning from the party was Singh's personal decision and it will have no adverse impact on the party's performance in Khandapada Assembly constituency.