Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar, Mar 31:

BJD supremo and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik today expelled former MLA i of Bijepur constituency Ashok Kumar Panigrahi for anti-party activities.

Ashok Kumar Panigrahi Ashok Kumar Panigrahi

Panigrahi, who had won the Bijepur Assembly segment in 2000 polls as a Janata Dal nominee, was a strong aspirant for BJD ticket this time. Panigrahi filed paper as an Independent candidate after being denied a BJD ticket.

Finance Minister and vice-president of BJD Prasanna Acharya is contesting from the seat.