Bhubaneswar: Political aspirations of Ananta Narayan Dhal, a controversial jatra troupe owner, were stonewalled as he was forced to return red-faced amid high drama at Congress Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
According to sources, Dhal, popular as Nandu Babu, arrived at the Congress office in Master Canteen around 11 am with over 1,000 supporters, expecting a warm welcome. Instead, he found the gates locked, as a faction within the Congress opposed his entry.
Though Dhal asserted that Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das had approved his induction, the latter, who was away in Nuapada, denied these claims. “I had a conversation with Bhakta Das, who invited me to the Congress Bhawan for an induction ceremony. Instead, we were met with humiliation and denied entry,” Dhal told the media.
Dhal also claimed he discussed joining the party with senior leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who did not comment on the issue.
Police were also deployed at the venue, effectively stopping him from entering the premises.
Dhal, who had travelled from Badachana Assembly constituency with his supporters, said he would take up the matter with the central leadership of the party. “Congress Bhawan is not Bhakta Das’ personal property. I and my supporters will travel to New Delhi and assemble at Jantar Mantar to join the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.,” he said.
He added that he came to join the party after being inspired by Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra.
The jatra troupe owner had recently courted a series of controversies regarding his alleged misconduct towards some women jatra artistes.