Expelled for anti-party activities, BJD MP Sujeet Kumar likely headed to BJP

New Delhi: The BJP's 'Operation Kamala' appears to be in full swing in Odisha with a second BJD MP Sujeet Kumar resigning from Rajya Sabha and joined the saffron party. 

BJD said it expelled him for "letting down the hopes and aspirations" of people.

Kumar's resignation comes 37 days after BJD MP Mamata Mohanta quit the party to join BJP. She was re-elected to Rajya Sabha on BJP ticket and 49-year-old former Naveen Patnaik loyalist is also likely to get a seat again in the Upper House on saffron party ticket.

Kumar (49), who holds degrees in engineering, law and business administration, was elected to Rajya Sabha in April 2020 and had around 19 months left in his tenure. He was Special Secretary of Odisha Planning earlier.

This is the fourth resignation from Rajya Sabha since Mohanta's putting in papers -- on August 29, two YSR Congress MPs M Venkataramana Rao and Beedha Mastan Rao Yadav resigned from Rajya Sabha on Thursday and are likely to join N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP.

In an "office order" signed by Patnaik, the BJD said Kumar was expelled from the party with immediate effect for anti-party activities. 

"He has let down the party which sent him to Rajya Sabha and hopes and aspirations of people of Kalahandi district," the office order said.

The resignations from the BJD started after the electoral debacle of the party in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections recently.

The latest defections appear to be helping the ruling NDA to strengthen its majority. The recent bypolls helped the ruling coalition to cross the majority mark in Rajya Sabha with the help of six nominated MPs. NDA has the support of 121 MPs in a House of 237. 

With two more MPs all set to return to the House from the TDP-led alliance and Kumar also returning, the NDA would further increase its tally.