Prasanna Patasani, a seasoned five-time MP from Bhubaneswar, has detached ties with the BJD and joined the BJP, expressing discontent with the current trajectory of his former party.
· Joined by other dissatisfied BJD leaders and workers from Bhubaneswar’s Jaydev Assembly constituency, Patasani criticized the party’s leadership for neglecting its founding principles and organizational integrity.
· Aparajita Sarangi, welcoming Patasani into the BJP fold, hailed his vast experience and leadership as pivotal assets for the party’s growth in Odisha.
· Patasani left the BJD after being excluded from the ticket list in the 2019 elections and facing disputes over his candidacy for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections, where the party opted for a different candidate.
Prasanna Patasani, a seasoned five-time MP from Bhubaneswar, has severed ties with the BJD (Biju Janata Dal) and joined the BJP, expressing discontent with the current trajectory of his former party. His decision culminated in an official induction ceremony held in the presence of BJP’s Bhubaneswar MP, Aparajita Sarangi, on Monday evening.
Accompanied by several other disaffected BJD leaders and workers from Bhubaneswar’s Jaydev Assembly constituency, Patasani voiced his disillusionment with the BJD’s leadership, lamenting what he described as a deterioration of the party’s ethos and organization under its current leadership.
“I have dedicated years of my life to nurturing and strengthening the BJD, but unfortunately, it has been derailed by mismanagement and a departure from its founding principles,” Patasani asserted during the ceremony at Aparajita Sarangi’s office.
Aparajita Sarangi, welcoming Patasani into the BJP fold, hailed his vast experience and leadership as pivotal assets for the party’s growth in Odisha. “As a five-time MP from Bhubaneswar, Prasanna Patasani brings invaluable insights and a deep understanding of public service. His presence will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to serve the people of Odisha more effectively,” Sarangi remarked.
Patasani’s departure from the BJD followed his exclusion from the ticket list in the 2019 general elections and subsequent disagreements over his candidacy for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 elections, where the party instead chose another candidate. There were indications that he might contest from the Chilika Assembly segment, but local opposition within the party thwarted this move.
Adding a familial dynamic to his political transition, Patasani’s son-in-law, Priyadarshi Mishra, had previously switched allegiance to the BJP and contested from Bhubaneswar-North in recent elections, though he did not secure victory.
Patasani’s shift to the BJP marks a significant realignment in Odisha’s political landscape, with implications for both parties as they prepare for future electoral battles. His decision underscores broader shifts in political loyalties and strategic alignments ahead of upcoming state and national elections.
The move also reflects Patasani’s strategic assessment of the BJP’s rising influence in Odisha and its potential to provide a platform for his continued political career. As both parties adjust to these changes, Patasani’s entry into the BJP is expected to energize the party’s cadre and strengthen its appeal in key constituencies across the state.
Looking forward, Patasani’s experience and stature within Odisha politics position him as a significant player in shaping electoral strategies and policy agendas, further intensifying competition in the state’s political arena.
(With inputs from agencies)
