Former minister Golak Bihari Naik on Saturday, resigned from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Naik, elected twice from Khunta Assembly constituency in Mayurbhanj district, tendered his resignation citing personal reasons. He, however, told media that he was not happy with the manner in which the party is run by a few top leaders.
He said he will decide on his future course of action after due consultation with people in his constituency.
Naik had met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Nivas on Thursday leading to speculation that he might join the BJD. Though he dismissed such speculation saying he had some personal works with the Chief Minister, Naik, however, said ‘anything is possible in politics.’
After meeting the Chief Minister, Naik attended the meeting of State BJP functionaries here.
Describing Naik’s resignation from BJP as an act of betrayal, Singhdeo said that the party had agreed to his nomination from Udala Assembly segment for the ensuing general election.
Naik contested the 2009 Assembly election from Baripada after reorganisation of Assembly constituencies. He, however, lost the election. Suspended BJP MLA from Bonai, Bhimsen Choudhury joined the Congress on February 16 after prolonged wait for revocation of the suspension order.
Choudhury joined the Congress at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi.