Odisha: Two BJP national executive members quit party, say don’t want to be ‘show pieces’

The Odisha unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) received a jolt on Friday, November 30, when two national executive members Dilip Ray and Bijoy Mohapatra resigned from the party.

In a joint resignation letter signed by Mohapatra and Ray sent to BJP national president Amit Shah, they said that several leaders in the party have remained silent over various issues concerning the state fearing denial of tickets.

"The well meaning suggestions by us to you were construed as a threat by certain egocentric self servicing individuals who resorted to dirty tricks and a campaign was launched in our respective constituencies to try and deride us," they said in the letter.

"As self-respecting politicians with decades of service to Odisha, we refuse to continue in the party as showpieces. We can't be treated as furniture in the party while the rootless talk big and project a larger than life image.

"For us, the interest of the state is supreme. We have never ever compromised our self respect or the interest of the state for any post, power or ticket," they said, adding that such silence was a bad sign for any democracy.

Ray, MLA from Rourkela Assembly constituency, also resigned from the membership of the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Friday.

"It is with deep anguish that I have decided to quit as the Member of State Legislative Assembly as well as from the Membership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)," tweeted Ray.

He met Speaker Pradip Amat and tendered his resignation.