Former Satyabadi MLA Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh resigns from BJD

ONI Bureau: In a big jolt to BJD, former Satyabadi MLA Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh who was upset with the party following the re-induction of his bitter rival and sitting MLA Umakanta Samantray into the BJD, has resigned from the party with immediate effect.

Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh, who is tipped to be part of BJP very soon, has lashed out at CM Naveen Patnaik, calling him a ‘Puppet in the hands of Tamil Officer of 3rd Floor who was a “Veerappan” and ruined the Tamil Nadu economy’. Naveen has lost the grip and control over the party, he alleged.

Rama Ranjan Baliarsingh, who fought the 2014 assembly polls on BJD ticket, had lost to Independent candidate Umakanta Samantray, who rejoined the BJD last year. Rama had polled 46,787 votes, as compared to Umakanta’s 48,319 votes. Congress leader Prasad Harichandan had to be content with 25,905 votes only.