Five-time MLA Arabinda Dhali tendered his resignation from the ruling BJD on Saturday and is all set to switch to the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) soon. However, he did not mention any reason behind quitting the party.
Dhali, the MLA of Jayadev in Khordha district, said he has sent his resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik via e-mail.
Dhali was first elected to the assembly from the Malkangiri seat in a by-election in 1992 on a BJP ticket. He retained the seat for two consecutive terms.
He then joined the BJD and was elected to the assembly from Jayadev in 2009. He also won the 2019 election from the seat.
He also remained as the transport and corporation minister in Patnaik's government.
Last month, expelled BJD MLAs Pradeep Panigrahy and Prashant Jagdev also joined the BJP. Former state minister Debasis Nayak of the BJD also swapped sides recently.
The assembly elections in the state are slated to be held along with the Lok Sabha polls.
