Former BJD founding member, Bhartruhari Mahtab, joins BJP; May contest poll from Cuttack

Bhartruhari Mahtab, a six-time Cuttack Lok Sabha MP and founding member of BJD, joins BJP ahead of elections, signaling a significant political shift in Odisha. His defection follows a trend of prominent leaders leaving BJD. With elections looming, Odisha braces for a competitive battle across parliamentary and assembly constituencies, as parties vie for dominance in the state's political landscape.