Jharsuguda Bypoll “Aya Ram Gaya Ram”: Ex-ZP Member Joins BJP in Morn to Return to BJD in Evening

Jharsuguda: “Aya Ram and gaya Ram’ phenomenon is not new to electoral politics. It had a noteworthy reemergence during the Jharsuguda byelection process. Laikera Zone-1’s former Zilla Parishad member Lokendra Rout joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday morning in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. But by evening he returned back to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Rout for some reason changed his political colours twice within a few hours. He returned to the BJD party at the Laikera party office in the presence of party observers.

Rout said he had joined the BJP against his wish when some of his acquaintances in the BJP took him to the dais and asked him to join the party. It was his momentary decision which he later realized to be a wrong one.

According to local BJD leaders, Lokendra Rout was going to Kolabira when some of his friends in the BJP dragged him to the stage and garlanded in the presence of the Union minister.