In a surprising turn of events, Debasis Nayak, a four-time MLA and once a trusted aide of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has parted ways with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Nayak, who represented the Bari constituency, submitted his resignation from the party on Sunday, just ahead of the state and general elections.
In a letter addressed to Patnaik, Nayak expressed his decision to step down from the primary membership of BJD with immediate effect. Despite his long-standing affiliation with the ruling party, Nayak did not specify the reasons for his resignation.
Shortly after resigning, Nayak made headlines by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of state unit president Manmohan Samal. Nayak didn’t hold back in his criticism of his former party, stating, “There is a Tamil rule in BJD. The party is affected by the Jayalalitha syndrome and is no longer the same party as it used to be. It knows well that it won’t get votes. This is why it is importing people from other parties.”
Nayak’s political journey saw him being elected from the Bari constituency in Jajpur district consecutively in 2000, 2004, 2009, and 2014 as a BJD candidate. His move to the BJP marks a significant shift in Odisha’s political dynamics as the state gears up for upcoming elections.
