The Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS), the biggest recognised trade union of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), declared its support to BJP MlA candidate Dilip Ray.
Source said in an emergency meeting held at its Sector-18 office, Rourkela Shramik Sangh (RSS) secretary MDN Panickar urged his union members to support Ray and ensure that the BJP nominee gets elected from Rourkela.
Political observers feel RSS’s support will also go to Raghunathpali BJP candidate Jagabandhu Behera and Sundargarh MP candidate Jual Oram.
Meanwhile, BJD leaders and workers have resented Sarada Nayak’s nomination this time.
Sources said many BJD founder leaders including former councilor Nirakar lenka, senior advocate Nayan Das and senior leader Karunakar Mohanty joined BJP expressing their support to Ray.
On reply to their quitting BJD, they said the day party decided to put Nayak as Rourkela MlA candidate, it was established that there was no democracy and ethics in the party and any person having self respect could not continue any more. They also alleged that Nayak was a betrayer.
Similarly, a number of Congress women leaders, including Kanchan Prava Das, laxmi Patra, Mamata Bisoi, Surama lenka, Sumitra lugun and laxmi Priya Jena joined the BJP.