Bhubaneswar: Two actor-turned-politicians, Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty and former Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak on Saturday quit the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) dealing a major blow to the ruling party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Along with senior leader Priyadarshi Mishra and actor-politician Akash Das Nayak, Anubhav Mohanty left the BJD in a row today. Earlier, actor and former Berhampur MP Sidhant Mohapatra and actor Arindam Roy deserted the ruling party and joined the BJP.
The sitting Kendrapara MP, Anubhav Mohanty resigned from the primary membership of BJD by submitting his resignation to party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik without citing any specific reason.
Although Anubhav has not yet announced his next course of action, there are speculations that he might join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Similarly, former Korei MLA and actor Akash Das Nayak resigned from the primary membership of BJD today. The actor-politician, in a video statement, said, “I have decided to quit BJD after listening to my inner voice. I left the party for my self-respect and the respect of Korei residents. I will decide my next course of action after holding discussions with the residents of Korei and my supporters.”
Akash served as the MLA for the Korei constituency in Jajpur district from 2014 to 2019. He had been optimistic about receiving a BJD ticket in the current election cycle. However, Akash, who is also the chairman of Mo College Abhiyan, was not granted a party ticket during the 2019 elections.
