Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab Quits BJD

BHUBANESWAR: Senior BJD Lok Sabha member from Cuttack, Bhartruhari Mahtab resigned from the primary membership of the ruling party on Friday. He is likely to join BJP. 

The development came a day after a special court in Cuttack on Thursday framed charges against Mahtab, a six-time MP, in a case related to alleged assault on a police officer on duty 13 years ago.

“I have sent my resignation letter to BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at 4 pm with a broken heart,” said Mahatab, who attributed the reason for quitting BJD to little opportunity to work freely in the party.

Mahatab said the BJD was founded to fight against corruption and to stay away from self-aggrandizement. But during the last few years, things went wrong, he said.