Odisha MLA Hopeful Of BJD Revoking His Suspension; Alleges Conspiracy By Ex-Legislator

Bhubaneswar: Suspended BJD leader and Chilika MLA Prashant Jagdev on Saturday expressed the hope that the party will soon revoke his suspension, and accused a former party legislator of having hatched a conspiracy against him.

Jagdev, who was suspended by the party after he allegedly assaulted a BJP leader, claimed that he had become a victim of a conspiracy by former legislator Raghunath Sahu.

Expressing the hope that BJD president and Chief Minsiter Naveen Patnaik will soon order revocation of his suspension from the party, the lawmaker said he will again contest election and win.

Hitting out at Sahu, Jagdev alleged that the former Chilika legislator had conspired that spent money to instigate BJP leaders against him. “It was Sahu who provoked BJP leaders and workers against me. He (Sahu) even spent money to instigate them,” he alleged.

While Raghunath Sahu was BJD MLA from Chilika from 2009 to 2014, Jagdev was fielded by the regional party from the constituency in 2019 and he got elected. Jagdev was earlier the party MLA from Begunia.

Dismissing the allegation made by the Chilika MLA, Sahu said people know everything about Jagdev and he need not say anything. Claiming that 7 to 8 police cases are pending against Jagdev, he said, “it is unfortunate that such a person has been elected to the Assembly.”

It may be noted that Jagdev was arrested in March 2022 for allegedly ploughing his SUV into a crowd waiting outside the Banapur block office for election to the Panchayat Samiti Chairperson post on March 12. A total of 22 persons, including police personnel, were injured in the incident. Jagadev had also sustained injuries after the irate mob thrashed him and ransacked his vehicle.

He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in July 2022 and subsequently released from Banapur sub-jail in Khurda district.