Former BJD MP joins BJP ahead of Kandhamal by-poll

BHUBANESWAR: Ahead of the October 15 by-election to the Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat in Odisha, former MP Rudra Madhav Ray today joined BJP sparking speculation about his possible candidature from the party.

Ray, who was earlier suspended from the BJD, joined BJP along with his supporters in the presence of state party president K V Singhdeo, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, party's Odisha in-charge Arun Singh and senior leaders.

Singhdeo formally announced the entry of the ex-MP into the BJP fold.

"I will work as an active member of BJP and ensure the defeat of BJD in the forthcoming by-election in Kandhamal," Ray said soon after joining the BJP.

Hitting out at BJD, the former MP alleged corruption was rampant during BJD rule which was marked by dictatorial and authoritarian practices.

Ray, who represented Kandhamal in the Lok Sabha after being elected in the 2009 polls as a BJD candidate, was suspended from the ruling outfit for anti-party activities and was accused of working against the BJD after being denied a party ticket for the 2014 LS elections.

With Ray joining the party, speculation was rife in political circles about the possibility of him being fielded as BJP candidate for the Kandhamal by-election.

In a related development, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra was appointed the campaign committee chairman of the BJP for the by-election in its state executive meeting today, a party statement said.

The by-election in Kandhamal was necessitated following the death of Hemendra Chandra Singh, who had won the seat in April, 2014 elections as a BJD nominee.