<p>Bhubaneswar: Five-time MLA Arabinda Dhali on Saturday resigned from the ruling BJD, and said that he would join the opposition <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-polls-nadda-holds-virtual-meets-with-state-bjp-mps-amid-buzz-over-first-candidate-list-2918620">BJP</a>.</p>.<p>Dhali, the MLA of Jayadev in Khordha district, said he has sent his resignation letter to <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/odisha/ec-seeks-clarification-from-odisha-govt-ruling-bjd-over-use-of-party-symbol-in-govt-ads-2914459">BJD </a>president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik via e-mail.</p>.<p>He, however, did not mention any reason for his resignation.</p>.Ahead of polls, Odisha extends farmer welfare scheme KALIA for another three years.<p>Dhali was first elected to the assembly from the Malkangiri seat in a by-election in 1992 on a BJP ticket. He retained the seat for two consecutive terms.</p>.<p>He then joined the BJD, and was elected to the assembly from Jayadev in 2009. He also won the 2019 election from the seat.</p>.<p>He was the transport and corporation minister in Patnaik's government.</p>.<p>Last month, expelled BJD MLAs Pradeep Panigrahy and Prashant Jagdev also joined the BJP. Former state minister Debasis Nayak of the BJD also switched sides recently.</p>.<p>The assembly elections in the state are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.</p>
<p>Bhubaneswar: Five-time MLA Arabinda Dhali on Saturday resigned from the ruling BJD, and said that he would join the opposition <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/elections/india/lok-sabha-polls-nadda-holds-virtual-meets-with-state-bjp-mps-amid-buzz-over-first-candidate-list-2918620">BJP</a>.</p>.<p>Dhali, the MLA of Jayadev in Khordha district, said he has sent his resignation letter to <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/odisha/ec-seeks-clarification-from-odisha-govt-ruling-bjd-over-use-of-party-symbol-in-govt-ads-2914459">BJD </a>president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik via e-mail.</p>.<p>He, however, did not mention any reason for his resignation.</p>.Ahead of polls, Odisha extends farmer welfare scheme KALIA for another three years.<p>Dhali was first elected to the assembly from the Malkangiri seat in a by-election in 1992 on a BJP ticket. He retained the seat for two consecutive terms.</p>.<p>He then joined the BJD, and was elected to the assembly from Jayadev in 2009. He also won the 2019 election from the seat.</p>.<p>He was the transport and corporation minister in Patnaik's government.</p>.<p>Last month, expelled BJD MLAs Pradeep Panigrahy and Prashant Jagdev also joined the BJP. Former state minister Debasis Nayak of the BJD also switched sides recently.</p>.<p>The assembly elections in the state are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.</p>