Even as candidates of different political parties, mainly Congress, BJP and BJD, thronged the Sub-Collector office here on Monday to file their nominations, some political leaders also left their parties and some other joined other parties. The most important development of the day was that Balangir District Congress Committee President Bhagaban Bagarti resigned from his post.
“I have resigned from the District Congress Committee due to personal problem,” said Bagarti to the media, adding, “I will work in the Congress as a disciplined party worker.”
Political observers felt that Bagarti’s resignation was an outcome of the factionalism in the Balangir Congress. One camp is headed by former MP Sarat Pattnaik and another by local MlA and leader of Opposition in the State Assembly Narasingha Mishra. However, both camps deny any factionalism. Many feel that Bagarti resigned as he was ignored by not being invited to many party functions last year. He was absent during the declaration of 19 party candidates for Zilla Parishad election. In another development, Balangir Action Committee president Gopalji Panigrahi joined the BJP. He is a close confidante of former local BJP MP Sangeeta Singh Deo and her husband and Patnagarh BJP MlA KV Singh Deo.