Bhubaneswar: Ahead of general and Assembly elections, former minister and tribal leader from Kalahandi Balabhadra Majhi today resigned from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
In his resignation letter to party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the five-time legislator said, “I do hereby relinquish from the primary membership of the party BJD. Thanks a lot for allowing me to work for a long period along with you since the formation of the party 1997.”
However, the ex-minister did not mention the reason behind his resignation in the letter. Alleged neglect by the party is said to be the reason for his resignation, sources said.
Majhi was first elected to the State Assembly from Narla constituency in 1990 from Janata Dal ticket. He was reelected as MLA from Narla and Lanjigarh assembly segments in Kalahandi district in 1995, 2000, 2004 and 2014.
In 2009, the former minister lost the assembly poll to Shibaji Majhi of Congress. However, the ruling BJD denied a ticket to Balabhadra in the 2019 election. In his place, the party nominated Pradeep Kumar Disari in Lanjigarh.
He served as SC, ST Development Minister in Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet twice during 2002 to 2006.
