Mon Nov 03 19:46:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

Summary:

Former Rajya Sabha member Amar Patnaik, a prominent figure in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move marks a significant blow to the BJD, which suffered a defeat in the previous Assembly elections. Patnaik, who previously served as an Accountant General, cited Prime Minister Modi’s dedication to nation-building as his reason for joining the BJP. The BJD downplayed the defection, accusing Patnaik of opportunism and questioning his previous criticism of the BJP. The timing of the move, coinciding with a BJD campaign event, suggests a strategic maneuver by the BJP.

News Article:

BJD Suffers Another Blow as Amar Patnaik Defects to BJP

BHUBANESWAR, November 4, 2025 – In a move shaking Odisha’s political landscape, former Rajya Sabha member Amar Patnaik has defected from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The announcement, made on Monday, November 3rd, deals another blow to the regional party, still reeling from its defeat in last year’s Assembly elections.

Patnaik, who served as a BJD Rajya Sabha MP from 2019 to 2024 after a career as Accountant General of Odisha, stated his decision was driven by an admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to “nation-building.” He is the third Rajya Sabha member from the BJD to join the BJP since last year, following in the footsteps of Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar.

“I was given an opportunity to serve the state with the BJD. But now I wish to devote myself to nation-building,” Patnaik explained.

The BJD has dismissed the defection as inconsequential. In a statement, BJD leaders accused Patnaik of opportunism, highlighting his past role in leading the party’s criticism of the BJP, particularly regarding alleged electoral irregularities in the 2024 elections. The party questioned Patnaik’s sudden change of heart and urged him to clarify his current stance on those issues.

“Naveen Patnaik had given Mr. Amar Patnaik his political identity,” the BJD statement read.

Adding to the intrigue, the BJP’s timing of the announcement coincides with Naveen Patnaik’s campaign appearance in Nuapada for an upcoming by-election. BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty argued that this timing exposes the BJP’s political agenda, suggesting the move was strategically planned to undermine the BJD’s campaign efforts.

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