Former Minister Samir Dash Quits BJD Over Ticket Denial

Bhubaneswar: In a major blow to Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ahead of the upcoming twin polls in Odisha, senior party leader and three-time MLA Samir Ranjan Dash resigned from the ruling party’s primary membership on Sunday.

Dash’s decision to quit BJD is reportedly linked to the party’s denial of a ticket for him to contest the 2024 elections. Sources suggest that the veteran leader was unhappy with the party’s decision to field Dilip Nayak, a recent defector from the BJP, as the candidate from Nimapara constituency.

In a video message announcing his resignation, Dash stated that despite his sincere efforts for BJD since 2006, the party leadership appeared to have lost confidence in him and the party organizations in Gop and Nimapara. “Therefore, I resign from the primary membership of the party,” he said.

Samir Ranjan Dash’s political career has been closely tied to BJD, as he won three consecutive Assembly polls in 2009, 2014 and 2019 from Nimapara on the party’s ticket. He also served as the School and Mass Education Minister in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet.

Following the denial of a ticket, Dash had organized several public meetings to demonstrate his influence in the Nimapara constituency, indicating his dissatisfaction with the party’s decision.