Bhubaneswar: Amid escalating tension in the party since the Waqf vote episode, senior leaders of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have been making explosive statements on the state of affairs in the regional outfit.
Even after BJD president Naveen Patnaik strongly defended his close aide V K Pandian and claimed that he is no more involved in party affairs, senior leaders refuse to raise questions over the role of the former bureaucrat in the organisation. Many of they have also questioned Naveen’s advise against leaders holding meetings in hotels instead of Sankha Bhawan.
Shortly after senior leader and former Minister Prafulla Mallik criticised Naveen’s diktat and growing influence of Pandian in party affairs, another stalwart Nrusingha Charan Sahu claimed that the party suffered defeat in the last elections primarily because of the former bureaucrat’s entry into the political arena. Pandian’s active involvement in party affairs not only led to the poll debacle but also triggered internal discord, he claimed.
Ever since Pandian joined political activities, BJD continued to suffer, the former MLA claimed. “Though he (Pandian) was quite efficient as a bureaucrat, when he involved himself in political activities, BJD started losing ground. The electoral debacle last year was a direct result of the Pandian factor,” he told the media.
The senior leader further stated party supremo Naveen Patnaik’s contest from two Assembly seats in last elections gave BJP an opportunity to launch a campaign, which eventually dented public trust in the BJD. It was claimed that one seat would be vacated for Pandian, and people could not digest the ambiguity and the party had to pay the price. Sahu said.
Regarding meetings held outside Sankha Bhawan, Sahu defended his action and those of fellow leaders by saying, “Meetings for tea or discussions do not require Sankha Bhawan as a venue. Even senior leaders Atanu and Sanjay have held meetings in hotels. When we gather, it is to discuss the betterment of the party, not to conspire against it. But some people distorted these meetings and misrepresented them to Naveen Babu.”
The BJD stalwart was also critical of Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra and his role during the Waqf Bill controversy. “I personally met Naveen Patnaik and told him that what Sasmit did was not right. I have also urged the party president to take appropriate action, and he has assured that the matter will be considered seriously,” he said
The senior leader’s remarks reflected the growing discontent and widening rift within the BJD ranks over the party’s functioning.
