BJD Lost Elections In Odisha Due To Sabotage By A Leader, Says Ex-MLA Sambit Routray

Bhubaneswar: In an explosive statement, BJD leader and former Paradip MLA Sambit Routray on Sunday said his party lost the elections due to an important leader.

Speaking to media persons, Routray said the BJD government had done a lot of public welfare works in the last few years. “Be it development of roads, schools, temples or hospitals, the government left no sector untouched to ensure better services to the people. Our government under former chief minister Naveen Patnaik provided funds for improvement of quality of life,” he said.

“Despite all the efforts, our party lost the elections. It is democracy and the people have the right to elect the party they want to see in power. We honour the verdict of the electorate and accept our defeat gracefully,” he said.

Stating that the BJD was doing the introspection to find out the reasons for its defeat after remaining in power for 24 years, he said, “We will identify the loopholes and weaknesses in our efforts and organisation and take steps for course correction in future.”

On being asked whether he considered the role of BJD leader VK Pandian was responsible for the party’s defeat, he said it is a discussion in the media and he did not want to comment it now.

But the former MLA said one should think why a strong personality like Naveen Patnaik lost the election in one Assembly seat. “While the BJD managed to get only 51 seats, Naveen lost Kantabanji seat and won from his home constituency Hinjili by a margin of only around 4,000 votes,” he said.

Stating that it needed serious analysis, he said, “It was a well-planned conspiracy from within the party. The entire election exercise of the BJD was deliberately sabotaged from within. The saboteur will be exposed in course of time and the media will come to know about him.”

It may be noted that the BJD had not given ticket to Sambit in this election. Instead of him, his wife Gitanjali Routray had contested from Paradip but lost to BJP nominee Smpad Chandra Swain.