Baripada, April 30: Ahead of the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly polls, former Karanjia MLA Bijay Kumar Naik today resigned from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
He tendered his resignation letter to party supremo Naveen Patnaik and cited the denial of tickets to contest the upcoming polls as the reason behind his move.
Naik alleged that despite strengthening BJD at the grass root level during 2019 Twin Elections and 2022 Panchayat Elections in Mayurbhanj, he was neglected in the conch party.
He announced that he would contest the polls as an independent candidate from Karanjia Assembly constituency.
Notably, Naik had successfully contested the 2019 and 2014 elections from Karanjia Assembly seat.