Former Laxmipur MLA Kailash Kulesika joins BJP amidst Odisha’s pre-election turmoil

Bhubaneswar: Kailash Kulesika, the former MLA of Laxmipur, has made a significant move by joining the BJP, just ahead of the upcoming dual elections in Odisha. This decision follows closely after the BJD’s announcement of re-nominating Prabhu Jani, the current MLA, for the Laxmipur seat.

Kulesika’s decision to switch parties comes on the heels of his anticipation of securing a ticket from the BJD to contest the assembly polls in the Laxmipur constituency. Expressing his disappointment, he stated, “I had joined the BJD with the expectation of receiving a ticket from Laxmipur. However, the party’s failure to fulfill its promise has left me feeling betrayed. The people of the state will surely respond to this betrayal.”

Having a history in politics, Kulesika previously contested the assembly elections from Laxmipur as an independent candidate in 2009, albeit unsuccessfully. However, he clinched victory in the 2014 polls as a Congress candidate from the same seat. In the subsequent 2019 elections, his defeat to BJD’s Prabhu Jani by a narrow margin of just 229 votes underscored the competitiveness of the constituency.

With his entry into the BJP fold, Kulesika’s political trajectory is set to take a new direction, adding an intriguing dimension to the electoral landscape of Odisha.