Samir Dash, an MLA from Odisha, has joined the BJP just hours after leaving the BJD party.

In a move that has brought a boost to the BJP in Odisha, BJD Nimapara MLA Samir Ranjan Dash announced his decision to join the saffron party on Sunday after leaving the regional outfit. The BJP Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal, along with party's Odisha in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar and other leaders, extended a warm welcome to Dash at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar.

Dash, who had earlier resigned from the BJD, shared that he felt disappointed after being denied a party ticket to contest the 2024 Assembly elections. "I have lost confidence in the BJD leadership, which is why I have decided to join the BJP. I am determined to support BJP candidate Pravati Parida in winning the elections in the Nimapara Assembly segment," Dash stated in a press conference.

The three-time legislator submitted his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, conveying his decision to quit the primary membership of the regional party. In a video message, Dash further explained that he had been a dedicated member of BJD since 2006, but now felt that the leadership had lost faith in him. "Therefore, I have resigned from the primary membership of the party today," he added.

Dash, who had won the Nimapara Assembly segment under the Jagatsinghjpur Lok Sabha seat for three consecutive terms, had also served as the School and Mass Education Minister in Naveen Patnaik's Cabinet. However, this time, the regional party decided to nominate Dilip Nayak, who had recently switched from BJP, instead of giving Dash a ticket.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time BJD MLAs have resigned from the party in recent times. Parsuram Dhada, Ramesh Chandra Sai, Arabinda Dhali, Premananda Nayak, and Simarani Nayak have also resigned earlier. In addition, two incumbent MPs, Bhartruhari Mahtab and Anubhav Mohanty, have also left the BJD in the lead-up to the twin polls for the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly.

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