Hundreds of followers and supporters of former BJP MLA of Rourkela Dilip Ray joined BJD on Friday extending support to the BJD nominee for the Rourkela Assembly seat Sarada Nayak.
During the joining ceremony, while welcoming the new entrants to the party, Nayak who is an old political rival of Ray praised the latter from the open dais after one and a half decades.
In 2014, Ray as a BJP candidate had defeated Nayak of BJD in Rourkela and Ray too had a crucial role in the victory of the BJP in Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat. However, the situation has changed now.
Ray has left the BJP over a host of issues; while he is considering the CBI probe against him by the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre a conspiracy against him, his attempt to expedite the two vital projects of the city i.e. construction of second Brahmani bridge and upgradation of IGH to a medical college and super specialty hospital despite the declaration of the Prime Minister four years back, repeatedly failed to bear fruit. He virtually lost his face before the electorate.
Though there were speculations that Ray would join the BJD, so far his political course has been uncertain. But from his address to the supporters a few days back it was clear that Ray wants to defeat the BJP in Sundargarh. Ray was very open to say his followers to back BJD Raghunathpalli MLA candidate Subrat Tarai while staying mum on Nayak. But the latest development shows Ray too would throw his weight behind Nayak.