Former Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari Deo Returns to BJP After 10 Years

Bhubaneswar: Former Kalahandi MP Arka Keshari Deo has rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after a decade. He and his wife, Malvika Devi, officially joined the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders.

Arka Deo had previously been elected to the 16th Lok Sabha in 2014 as a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidate. His entry into the BJP marks a significant political shift.

Arka Keshari Deo initially joined the BJD in 2013 following the passing of his father, Bikram Keshari Deo, a former BJP MP. However, he resigned from the BJD in 2019, leading to a change in his political affiliation.

During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling BJD had nominated former Odisha Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo as its candidate for the Kalahandi constituency, while the BJP fielded Basant Kumar Panda, who emerged victorious.

The ‘Misrana Parba’ event in Bhubaneswar witnessed Arka Keshari Deo’s return to the BJP, with the presence of BJP State President Manmohan Samal, Kalahandi MP Basant Panda, and various other senior leaders.