'Nobody Listens To Anyone': Setback To BJD As Arabinda Dhali Joins BJP

Former BJD leader Arbinda Dhali joined the BJP on Sunday in a setback to the Naveen Patnaik-led party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Arabinda Dhali of Jayadev assembly constituency, sent his resignation letter on Saturday to the party supremo. ( Image Source :ANI )

Five-time MLA, Arabinda Dhali, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the presence of Odisha election in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and BJP state president Manmohan Samal at the BJP headquarters in Bhubaneswar on Sunday after resigning from the BJD . While addressing the media, Dhali said that nobody listens to anyone in BJD and he likes that BJP is an “independent party” which is why he had decided to leave.

"I like BJP, it is an independent party. BJD is not independent. The administration in BJD is not going well, nobody listens to anyone", Dhali told ANI.

#WATCH | Former BJD leader Arabinda Dhali joined BJP yesterday.

He says, " I like BJP, it is an independent party. BJD is not independent. The administration in BJD is not going well, nobody listens to anyone" (03/03) pic.twitter.com/gm7UX8hkwt

— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2024

On Saturday, Dhali, the representative of the Bhubaneswar Jayadev assembly constituency, sent his resignation letter to the party supremo and Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik.

After which he told the media his intentions to join BJP, he said that he was inspired by “PM Modi's work and Bharat is going to be Viswa Guru”.

“The whole world is giving respect to Narendra Modi. I will dedicate the rest of my life to the BJP and work accordingly for the betterment of the people. My heart wants me to work with BJP therefore I am joining the party”. He added that PM Modi is set to become the prime minister for the third term with a majority of over 400 MPs. 

"The development that happened in the last 8 years did not happen in the 70 years before him. The country is secured under him”, he asserted. He also mentioned that he didn't get comfort while working in the BJD party and decided to join the BJP.

Along with Dhali, former Malkangiri MLA Mukunda Sodi, and thousands of their supporters officially joined the saffron party on Sunday. Several other senior BJP leaders, including Odisha co-incharge and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, participated in the joining ceremony held in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha's assembly elections are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.