Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Panchayat elections, senior BJD leader and a former minister Sanjeeb Sahoo resigned from the ruling party.
He sent his resignation letter to BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik citing personal problems.
Though he has not revealed his future plan, it is believed that Sahoo will join some national party, possibly the BJP.
The 61-year-old politician was first elected from Birmaharajpur on a BJD ticket in 2003 by poll. He was re-elected to the Odisha Legislative Assembly from the same constituency in 2004. Later, he was elected to the Assembly from Athmallik constituency twice in 2009 and 2019.
However, the BJD did not give him a ticket during the last elections in 2019.
Mr.Sahoo was a Minister of State, Panchayati Raj and Science & Technology from 2006 to 2008.
Mr.Sahoo also held the position of Minister of State (independent) of School & Mass Education and Commerce & Transport from 2008 to 2009 and from 2009 to 2012, respectively.