Ujjwal Gupta and Nine Councillors Quit BJD, Join BJP in Odisha
Bhubaneswar, Odisha: In a major political shift, Khadial NAC Chairman Ujjwal Gupta and nine councillors resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar.
The induction ceremony was led by BJP state president Manmohan Samal, with district president Kamalesh Dixit and other leaders from Nuapada present.
Gupta, a youth leader previously associated with Congress, was known for his partnership with Khariar MLA Adhiraj Panigrahi.
His move to the BJP marks a significant break in that alliance, which had shaped local politics in Nuapada.
Political observers see this defection as a setback for the BJD in the region, with reports suggesting that other representatives are also in touch with the BJP.
Party leaders hailed the development as a “big boost” ahead of upcoming electoral battles. Gupta has yet to issue a formal statement on his decision.
