In another major setback for the BJD in the district, on Saturday, Bhanu Pratap Majhi, who was suspended from party recently, bagged the post of Zilla Parishad (ZP) Vice-President with cross voting from the BJD.
Sources said with the support from five Congress members, Majhi emerged victorious after one member from the BJD voted for him violating the party whip. A well-known tribal leader Bhanu Pratap along with the Nuapada district BJD president Prasanna Padhi, was suspended from the party last week for his involvement in anti-party activities.
The suspension of Majhi had annoyed the Zilla Adivasi Kalyan Sangha, which had held a huge rally of protesting the decision. The tribal body had decided to field Bhanu Pratap for the post and assured him all support.