BHUBANESWAR: In a major setback to the BJD, former MP Manjulata Mandal, former MLA from Dhamnagar Muktikanta Mandal and several senior leaders from Bhadrak district accompanied by hundreds of workers resigned from the party on Sunday.
The resignations follow the suspension of the Mandal couple from the party triggering large-scale discontentment in the district unit. Those who resigned include leaders from all seven Assembly segments of Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituency. They will join BJP soon, sources said.
While Manjulata was elected from the Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat in 2019 election, her husband Muktikanta was elected from Dhamnagar Assembly seat in 2014. Muktikanta alleged that he was “unconstitutionally suspended” due to a conspiracy by vested interests.
On April 6, the BJD president had suspended Manjulata and her husband for alleged anti-party activities.