Bhubaneswar: Amid the ongoing trend of switching parties ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, former BJD MLA from Kendrapara Sipra Mallick joined the Congress while Odia actor Varsha Priyadarshini joined the ruling regional party.
Mallik was elected to the assembly from Kendrapara in 2009, but was not given the party ticket in 2014 and 2019. Though he had filed nomination as an independent in 2019, he later withdrew it and supported the regional party.
However, he decided to leave the party after receiving indications that BJD may field Congress entrant and former MLA Ganeshwar Behera from the seat.
Sipra, daughter of former Odisha minister late Prahlad Mallik, joined the grand old party on Thursday in the presence of senior Congress leaders, including former OPCC president Prasad Harichandan.Sipra said it is an important day for her as she is ready to start a new journey with the national party of which her late father was a member.
Actress Varsha Priyadarshini joined BJD in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Sasmi Patra. She was inducted into the party about three weeks after her former husband and sitting Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty left BJD and joined BJP.
Saying that Varsha is a big fan of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Patra said, “She has been working for women empowerment, especially by creating awareness about menstrual hygiene. Also helped in reconstruction.,
Varsha said she felt honored to be a part of Patnaik's party. "Sir (Patnaik) is a great gentleman who never speaks ill of anyone," the actress said, adding that she will work as a disciplined worker.
Mallik was elected to the assembly from Kendrapara in 2009, but was not given the party ticket in 2014 and 2019. Though he had filed nomination as an independent in 2019, he later withdrew it and supported the regional party.
However, he decided to leave the party after receiving indications that BJD may field Congress entrant and former MLA Ganeshwar Behera from the seat.
Sipra, daughter of former Odisha minister late Prahlad Mallik, joined the grand old party on Thursday in the presence of senior Congress leaders, including former OPCC president Prasad Harichandan.Sipra said it is an important day for her as she is ready to start a new journey with the national party of which her late father was a member.
Actress Varsha Priyadarshini joined BJD in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Sasmi Patra. She was inducted into the party about three weeks after her former husband and sitting Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty left BJD and joined BJP.
Saying that Varsha is a big fan of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Patra said, “She has been working for women empowerment, especially by creating awareness about menstrual hygiene. Also helped in reconstruction.,
Varsha said she felt honored to be a part of Patnaik's party. "Sir (Patnaik) is a great gentleman who never speaks ill of anyone," the actress said, adding that she will work as a disciplined worker.
