The politics of Aaya Ram and Gaya Ram intensified in Odisha with the declaration of polls. This has so far remained a one-way traffic with the leaders of other political parties making a beeline for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) barring a few who are joining the BJP hoping to benefit from the Modi wave.
Former BJP leader Golak Naik, who was a minister in the BJD-BJP alliance ministry, formally joined the BJD on Thursday. The former minister made a formal announcement about joining the BJD at the party headquarters here in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Naik had resigned from the BJP on February 21 alleging that it has become difficult to bear with the dictatorial attitude of some of the top leaders of the party.
Meanwhile, desertions from the Congress continued with former minister Kamala Das resigning from the party.
In a letter to Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Jayadev Jena and the All-India Congress Committee (AICC), Kamala alleged that the ongoing intra-party feud and the highhandedness of the State party leadership forced her to quit the Congress.
A three-time MLA from Bhograi, Kamala was the Health and Family Welfare and Women and Child Development Minister in Naveen Patnaik’s first term as Chief Minister from March 6, 2000 till July 9, 2001.
Shiv Shankar Ulaka, son of late Congress leader Ramchandra Ulaka, who had resigned from the Congress, joined the BJP at Rayagada on Wednesday. Sources said he is tipped to be the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Koraput Lok Sabha constituency.