Former Minister Sanjeeb Kumar Sahoo quits BJD

Bhubaneswar: Former Minister Sanjeeb Kumar Sahoo resigned from the primary membership of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today evening.

Citing personal problem as the reason for quitting BJD, Sahoo sent a letter to the party’s President and Chief Minister Naveen Patanik.

Sahoo was elected to the State Assembly four times on a BJD ticket. Twice he was elected from Birmaharajpur Assembly seat and twice from Athamallik Assembly seat.

However, the BJD had denied ticket to the four-time MLA during the last elections in 2019 and filed former bureaucrat Ramesh Chandra Sai for Athamallik constituency. Following this, he felt neglected by the BJD.

Sahoo was a Minister of State (MoS), Panchayati Raj and Science & Technology from 2006 to 2008. He also held the position of MoS (independent) of School & Mass Education and Commerce & Transport from 2008 to 2009 and from 2009 to 2012, respectively.