Dilip Ray joins 'Biju Dal', to quit Gujral ministry
Union Minister of State for Food Processing Dilip Ray has joined the newly formed Biju Janata Dal and will resign from the caretaker United Front government at the Centre.
Ray, who has played a key role in the formation of the new regional party in Orissa, said he will leave for Delhi tomorrow to submit his resignation to the prime minister.
He is a Rajya Sabha member from the state.
Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal, led by Naveen Patnaik, submitted a list of 31 JD legislators to state assembly Speaker Chintamani Dyan Samantra, urging him to grant recognition to their party.
The Orissa Janata Dal, which had 43 MLAs, is now left with only 12 legislators.
The speaker, however, reserved his ruling, stating that he would
act according to the Constitution after a physical verification of
the MLAs's names.
UNI
EARLIER REPORT:
Biju's son splits JD in Orissa
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