Months after being suspended from the primary membership of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Baijayant Jay Panda on Monday quit the party. 

In a letter written to BJD chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Panda wrote, “It’s with deep anguish, hurt and sorrow that I have decided to quit the politics into which our BJD has descended.” He also added that he would formally convey his decision to the Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

In January this year, Panda was suspended by BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for indulging in “anti-party activities”.