Bhubaneswar, March 21 -- In yet another setback to the ruling BJD in Odisha ahead of the Assembly election, Mohana (Gajapati district) MLA Basanti Mallick resigned from primary membership of the party today.

The sitting MLA has sent her resignation letter to BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik alleging neglect by party leaders in the district.

Sources said Mallick has decided to quit the party after she came to know that she is not getting party ticket this time to contest the polls.

So far, five sitting BJD MLAs and three MPs have resigned from the party to protest against the denial of tickets to them and three (MLAs) of them have already joined the BJP.

Odisha will witness Lok Sabha and Assembly elections simultaneously...