Speculations Rife That Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Prasanna Patasani May Join BJP

Bhubaneswar: Speculations are rife in political circles in Odisha that Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and former Bhubaneswar MP Prasanna Patasani may join the BJP in the coming days.

Both the BJP and the BJD are silent over the speculations. According to sources, both these leaders are expected to join the saffron party in New Delhi soon.

It is rumoured that Soumya Ranjan may contest as a candidate of the BJP from the Ghasipura assembly seat in the Keonjhar district. It is said that Patasani may be given a ticket by the BJP to contest from the Chilika Assembly seat.

Soumya Ranjan was expelled from the BJD on September 21, 2023, on charges of anti-people activities. Before that he was removed from the post of vice-president of the BJD. These actions followed two signed editorials written by Soumya Ranjan in his newspaper criticizing the functioning of the BJD government in the state.

Patasani has won from the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency five times in a row in the past. He was denied a BJD ticket in 2019 elections and 2024.