Cuttack: Several political leaders were seen at a ‘Holi Milan’ organised by Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, who recently resigned from the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), amid speculations that some of them may join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.
Prominent among those who attended the ‘Bandhumilan’ (get-together) at Cuttack on Tuesday morning was actor-turned-politician and Kendrapada MP Anubhav Mohanty. Speculations are rife that Anubhav also quit BJD after being sidelined by the regional party. As per reports, BJD is unlikely to re-nominate him from Kendrapada Lok Sabha constituency this time.
Several senior BJP leaders, including Nayak Kishore Mohanty, also joined the meet. Actor and BJP leader Sritam Das was also present at the get-together. The leaders were seen greeting and smearing each other with Holi colour.
Sources said many politicians of Cuttack and nearby areas attended the get-together and they all praised Bhatruhari for his performance as a Parliamentarian. The six-time MP recently resigned from BJD in in the run up to the twin elections.
Speaking to the media earlier, Bharttruhari said that he can see unprecedented enthusiasm among the people of Cuttack before the elections.
Stating that the state is all set to witness a victory of good over evil, the Cuttack MP claimed that BJD’s “pot of sin is full to its brim and may burst anytime.”
He said a political affairs committee handled all the issues of the party during its initial days, but all the power was handed over to two persons after 2004.
The senior leader accused BJD of having deviated from its original goals and claimed that the party is currently engaged only in corruption and injustice.
Citing the significance of ‘Holika Dahan’, the Parliamentarian said that the evil force in Hiranyakashyapu will be eliminated by the Lord in ‘Narasingha Avatar’, signifying the victory of Prahlad.
