Ask: Ahead of the three-level Panchayat elections, BJP in Gajapati District received a large setback, as two party leaders, including the Zilla Parishad President joined the powerful BJD.
While Anita Rani Behera, President ZP now joined the regional party at a meeting held in Mohana on Wednesday, G.Venkat Ravana, former BJP District President joined the ruling party along with his supporters on Tuesday.
“Impressed with the development work carried out by the Head of Minister of Naveen Patnaik, I decided to join the ruling party,” Anita said.
He also criticized the Safron party who allegedly ignored him even though he was President ZP.
The BJP District Unit said their departure from the party would not affect party organizations.
Local people opposed it because he was not with people after being elected ZP President in 2017, said Bhrugu Boxipatra, Secretary General of BJP.
BJD said the party would be strengthened in Gajapati by joining Anita and Venkat Ravana.
“We welcome them,” said Sahu, who was present at the meeting with the General Secretary of Manas Mangaraj and MLA (mixed) Bikram Panda in Mohana.
In the last Pancrayat election, BJP formed ZP in the Gajapati District, although the Safron party failed to get a majority.
While BJD won eight seats in 14 members of ZP, Congress and BJP each shared four seats.
The ZP President was reserved for women (caste scheduled).
Because Anita was the only candidate owned by a woman (SC) chosen in BJP, she became President of ZP.
In the latest assembly elections in 2019, Congress and BJP with two seats, while BJD failed to win a chair in the district.