THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Bhubaneswar, March 2: Arabinda Dhali, a five-time Odisha MLA, announced his resignation from the ruling BJD on Saturday and stated his intention to join the opposition BJP.
Dhali, the MLA representing Jayadev constituency in Khordha district, mentioned that he has submitted his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik via email.
He, however, refrained from specifying any reason for his resignation.
Also Read- PM Modi inaugurates Rs 15,000 crore development projects in West Bengal
Dhali initially won the assembly seat from Malkangiri in a by-election in 1992 under the BJP banner. He held onto the seat for two subsequent terms.
Afterward, he switched his allegiance to the BJD and secured a victory in the assembly elections from Jayadev in 2009. He also emerged victorious from the same seat in the 2019 elections.
He held the position of transport and corporation minister in Naveen Patnaik’s government.
The Odisha state assembly elections are set to take place concurrently with the Lok Sabha polls.
