Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday expelled former MLA Rajendra Kumar Das from the party for anti-party activities.
A release issued by the BJD General Secretary Manas R Mangaraj said Rajendra Kumar Das, Ex MLA of BJD ,Dhamnagar Assembly Constituency has been expelled from the party for his anti-party activities by BJD President Naveen Patnaik.
Das who was elected to the state Assembly on a BJD ticket from Dhamnagar Assembly constituency in 2014 was a strong contender for the party ticket for the November 3 by-election to the seat which fell vacant after the demise of BJP sitting MLA Bishnu Sethi.
The BJD fielded Abanti Das as its party candidate and unsuccessfully tried its best to placate Das who filed his nomination as an independent candidate.
On his expulsion from the party, Das said he humbly accepted the decision of the party to expel him. The people of Dhamnagar, he said, are with him and he is fighting for the interest and self esteem of the people of Dhamnagar.
As many as five candidates— Abanti Das (BJD), Surbanshi Suraj (BJP), Baba Harekrushna Sethi (Congress) , Pavitra Mohan Das (Ind) and Rajendra Kumar Das (Ind) are in the fray for the by election to Dhamnagar (SC) Assembly Constituency to be held on November 3 next.
