Odisha MLA Naba Das quits Congress, to join BJD

Bhubaneswar: Jharsuguda MLA Naba Kishore Das today resigned from the primary membership of the Congress party and announced to join the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

In his resignation letter addressed to All India Congress Committee (AICC) President Rahul Gandhi, Das has mentioned that people and voters of his area want him to contest the upcoming election from BJD as they want the development of the area.

“On public and voters’ pressurized request, I have decided to resign from the Indian National Congress with Primary Membership and from the post of Working President, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee,” Das wrote.

“I apologize for this resignation, as done so for the moto i.e. development first. So I should join BJD with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,” he added in the letter.

He said he will place all valuable suggestions of the people before the Chief Minister during his visit to Jharsuguda where Patnaik will inaugurate a cancer hospital on January 24.

The MLA also clarified that he doesn’t have any complain against Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik and has a very cordial relation with the latter.

Speculations were earlier rife about Das resigning from the Congress and joining the conch party on January 24.

With the Odisha unit of Congress gearing up for the Assembly Polls and Indian National Congress President Rahul Gandhi scheduled to visit the state on January 25, Das’ resignation from the party comes as a major jolt for the Congress.