Puri: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Krushnachandra Panda Sunday resigned from the saffron party while expressing displeasure over denial of ticket to contest for Puri Assembly constituency.
Panda sent his resignation to BJP state unit president Basanta Panda. “Many BJP activists from Puri have also submitted their resignations to party leadership,” Panda said in a press meet here.
Panda was an aspirant for BJP ticket from Puri Assembly segment. However, the saffron party nominated former Puri municipality chairperson Jayanta Sarangi to contest from the seat. Sarangi had left the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and joined BJP a few days ago.
Speculations are rife that Panda would join BJD within a few days.
“I have been working for BJP for last 16 years. The party leadership had promised me a ticket to contest from Puri Assembly seat. However, the party snubbed me by allotting the ticket to Sarangi who had come to the BJP fold just a couple of days ago,” Panda said.
According to Panda, many BJP activists from Puri had opposed Sarangi’s candidature and raised the issue with party’s state leadership. “There was a conspiracy against me. A black marketeer from Satyabadi had bribed some BJP leaders to ensure ticket for Sarangi. Two vice-presidents of BJP state unit and a district president of the party are involved in a conspiracy against me,” Panda alleged.
However, Puri district BJP president Prabhanjan Mahapatra rejected Panda’s allegation. “There was no question of monetary transaction for allocation of tickets,” Mahapatra said.
Puri city BJD president Sabyasachi Mahapatra said they would welcome Panda if he decides to join the regional party. “Panda was earlier in BJD. We have no problem if he returns to our party fold,” Mahapatra added.