Political Shift: Samal's Family Joins BJP, Sending Ripples Through BJD

In a significant political shift, Prafulla Samal's sons and sister have left BJD to join BJP, raising questions about a possible deal concerning an engineering college and sparking controversy in Odisha's political landscape.

In a surprising political twist, two sons and the sister of seasoned politician Prafulla Samal, a six-time MLA, have switched allegiance from Odisha's Opposition BJD to the ruling BJP. The family members joined the party at a formal event held at the BJP's state headquarters.

Among the notable defectors are Prayaskanti Samal, a former Bhadrak municipality chairperson, and Urmila Nayak, the chairperson of Bhadrak Sadar block (Panchayat Samiti). This move comes amid speculations of a deal made to escape scrutiny over an engineering college managed by the Samal family.

The shift has stirred controversy, with Chandbali's BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray alleging that the transition was motivated by the BJP's leniency towards the college. Meanwhile, the mass exodus continues, with numerous local leaders and supporters following suit, intensifying the political dynamics in Odisha.

(With inputs from agencies.)