Former Lok Sabha MP Hema Gamang quits BJD in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Amidst efforts of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to reach people and strengthen the party at grassroots level ahead of upcoming general elections, former Lok Sabha MP Hema Gamang resigned from the party here today.

Hema Gamang, who is the wife of former Odisha Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang, quit the BJD alleging ‘negligence’ by the party.

She tendered her resignation to Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik for approval.

Sources said that she resigned from the ruling party due to seven important reasons including negligence and pc culture within BJD.

“I had quit the party mentally since a long time. But, today I formally resigned from the party,” said Hema.

“The party had been ignoring me and my supporters. Neither I nor my supporters were allowed to meet CM Patnaik whenever we wanted to discuss constituency issues with him. If we leaders are not able to meet him, how he will meet the public and sort out their grievances. The party could not use me for the work in my constituency, she alleged.

She held the CM responsible for such things to take place within the party.

“If the CM were meeting the people and his party leaders, the officers would not be ruling here and such type of incident could not have occurred in the party,” Hema alleged.

She will decide for joining other party later.

“I have not decided to switch to any other political party right now. I will take decision after holding meeting with my well wishers and supporters,” she added.

Hema Gamang had joined the BJD just before elections in 2014. Her exit from BJD is likely to affect the party in Koraput region.

She was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999 on Congress ticket.