Bhubaneswar: Former Rengali MLA Ramesh Patua has resigned from Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the main Opposition party in Odisha.

The former legislator has resigned from the primary membership of the regional party. He has sent his resignation to BJD supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Patua had been elected to the Odisha Assembly from Rengali constituency in Sambalpur district on a BJD ticket in 2014.

In his resignation letter, Patua alleged that the Naveen Patnaik-led party has been ignoring him for last many days.

“I have been associated with the BJD for last 27 years. I worked hard to strengthen BJD in Rengali constituency. I remained loyal to the party despite being denied tickets in 2019 and 2024 Assembly elections in the state. But, the party has ignored me. So, I have decided to resign from the primary membership of BJD,” said Patua.

Sources, meanwhile, revealed that the former legislator is likely to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha.