Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Jajata Dal (BJD) leader and Odisha MLA Badri Narayan Patra sparked a row in political circles on Wednesday by stating that the regional party had committed a mistake by taking certain wrong steps.
Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar, the former Minister said that BJD had inducted several leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into the party in the past.
Noting that BJP is now adopting the same strategy to take away BJD MPs, Patra said such acts of poaching is harmful for both the political parties.
Stating that BJD could have groomed strong and good leaders in all constituencies during its 24 years of rule in the state, the senior legislator said BJD committed a mistake by importing leaders from other political parties.
Similarly, BJP is also committing a mistake by importing leaders, he said, adding that it is difficult for leaders to give up ideologies they had been followed for so many years.
Political parties cannot rely on imported leaders as they cannot adopt new ideologies and principles all of a sudden after switching over allegiance, Patra said.
