Khadial NAC Chairman Ujjwal Gupta, along with nine councillors, resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday.
The induction ceremony was held at the BJP state headquarters in Bhubaneswar, presided over by state president Manmohan Samal. District president Kamalesh Dixit and several local leaders from Nuapada were also present.
Gupta, a prominent youth leader, had earlier been associated with the Congress, where he was elected to the district council. His long‑standing political partnership with Khariar MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi had been a talking point in local politics. However, with Gupta’s move to the BJP, that alliance appears to have fractured, creating ripples in Khadial’s political landscape.
Observers say the defection is a major setback for the BJD in Nuapada, where several elected representatives are reportedly in touch with the BJP. Political analysts note that the BJP has managed to break the Gupta‑Adhiraj duo, strengthening its base in the district.
While Gupta has yet to issue a formal statement on his decision, BJP leaders described the development as a “big boost” for the party ahead of future electoral battles.
