Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), June 11: Before the inaugural ceremony of Odisha’s first BJP government, Independent MLA-elect from Baramba, Bijaya Kumar Dalabehera, announced his support for the saffron party on Tuesday. Dalabehera stated that he was approached by BJP leaders and decided to align himself with the party after consulting with his constituents.
Speaking to ANI, Dalabehera mentioned his past association with the BJP, stating that although he contested on their ticket in 2019 and narrowly lost, he continued serving his constituency. Despite not receiving the party ticket in the 2024 assembly elections, Dalabehera expressed gratitude to the people who elected him and emphasized his commitment to their interests.
Furthermore, Dalabehera asserted his intention to seek support from both the state and central governments to address the needs of the Baramba region. These include priorities such as ensuring access to clean drinking water, as well as promoting the development of railway infrastructure and industries in the area.
Dalabehera’s victory in the election saw him defeat former minister and BJD heavyweight Debiprasad Mishra by a margin of 23,479 votes.
In addition to Dalabehera, two other dissident BJP leaders, Himanshu Sahoo and Sarada Prasad Pradhan, contested and won seats in Dharmasala and Mahanga, respectively, after being denied party tickets. Himanshu, who was expelled from the BJP but later reinstated, secured a notable victory in Dharmasala against sitting MLA Pranab Balabantray in what was once a BJD stronghold, albeit with a narrow margin of 4,150 votes.
