At a time when the announcement of a formal alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) appears imminent, a group of recent entrants, who switched sides from the regional party to the saffron camp, now find themselves in a spot of bother. They fear being side-lined in the discussions over seat allocation, potentially facing abandonment in the process.
Recently, four incumbent MLAs, all formerly associated with the BJD, and over 10 former MLAs, had joined the BJP, anticipating that the party would mount a serious challenge against BJD. They harboured hopes of securing BJP nominations to contest in the upcoming elections.
Pradeep Panigrahi, the MLA representing Gopalpur in Ganjam district, was seen as a valuable acquisition for the BJP. Once a trusted ally of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he held the responsibility of representing Mr. Patnaik in his Hinjili Assembly constituency. Besides, Mr. Panigrahi served as the Ganjam district president for the BJD, spearheading the party’s electoral strategies in the district, which is also the home district of the Chief Minister.
