Gunupur MLA quits BJD, cites "neglect"

Trinath Gomango, the BJD MLA from Gunupur assembly seat in Odisha, on Monday resigned from the ruling party citing "neglect" meted out to him by the party.

Like Nabarangpur MP Balabhadra Majhi and Nilgiri MLA Sukant Kumar Nayak, who had resigned from the regional party recently alleging "neglect", Gomango said he had also been "ignored" and "subjected to neglect" in the party.

Gomango, the brother-in-law of former Congress chief minister Giridhar Gomango who had later joined the saffron fold, was elected to the Assembly from Gunupur seat in Rayagada district in 2014.

The Gunupur MLA sent his resignation letter to BJP president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"I have today tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal (BJD). I joined the BJD in 2009 and have worked for the party for five years," the tribal leader said.

"The party has let me down by organising a rally at Gunupur without my presence," Gomango told reporters outside the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Gomango also alleged that the party had "ignored" him and instead projected Raghunath Gomango as a probable candidate from the seat for 2019 elections.

He said he had apprised the BJD president Naveen Patnaik of his grievance but it was "never addressed".

Asked about his next course of action, Gomango said he will take a decision after consulting his supporters and well-wishers. Simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls will be held in Odisha in four phases from April 11 to April 29.