Bhubaneswar: Making an explosive statement on Odisha politics, senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said that the regional party can come to power by topping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state.
Speaking at a party event at Mahakalapada in Kendrapada district, the senior leader presented an arithmetic formula to show that BJD is capable of ousting BJP from power and form government in the state.
Stating that BJD has 51 MLAs in the state Assembly, Nayak said Congress has 14 legislators, while there are three independent legislators. A few more MLAs will be required to be in a position to stake claim for forming government in the state, he said.
Notably, similar claims had earlier been made by BJD MPs Debashish Samantaray and Munna Khan as well as former MP Amar Patanik. However, Nayak has now presented an arithmetic calculation to show how BJD can be in a position to form government in the state.
Claiming that the regional party with 51 MLAs has the support of 14 Congress and three independent legislators, Nayak said BJD needs the support of 8 to 10 more members to stake claim for forming government.
Ridiculing Nayak for his statement, BJP MLA Saroj Padhee said the BJD leader should know that around 27 MLAs of the regional party are in touch with BJP. Therefore, Nayak should stop daydreaming and misleading people, he said.
Similarly, Congress legislator Mangu Khila said there has been no talk with the regional party regarding any understanding.
