Bhubaneswar: Veteran Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Member of Parliament (MP) Prasanna Patasani has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s headquarters in Delhi. His switch to the saffron camp marks a significant political shift ahead of the upcoming elections.
Patasani was welcomed into the BJP by prominent leaders, including BJP MLA Jaynarayan Mishra and MP Sambit Patra, along with several newly elected MPs and MLAs from the state. Although he has not yet made a public statement about his move, photographs of him with BJP leaders have surfaced in the media, confirming his new political alignment.
Prasanna Patasani has a long and distinguished political career, having been elected to the Lok Sabha five times on a BJD ticket. However, in 2029, he was denied a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls. This year, he was again overlooked for both Assembly and parliamentary elections by the regional party.
Patasani had expressed a desire to contest from Bhubaneswar in the upcoming elections, but the BJD chose to field Manmath Routray, son of veteran leader Sura Routray, instead. Following this, Patasani showed interest in standing from the Chilika Assembly constituency on a BJD ticket but faced strong opposition from local leaders.
Patasani’s move to the BJP is expected to impact the political dynamics in Odisha significantly, given his extensive experience and influence in the state’s politics. As the BJP continues to strengthen its position in Odisha, the inclusion of a seasoned leader like Patasani could prove beneficial in the forthcoming electoral battles.
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