Does Pranab Das Want To Fight By-Election In Odisha? Know BJD’s Clarification

Jajpur: After beleaguered Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Pranab Prakash Das spoke about his readiness to fight, a wide range of speculations surfaced in political circles in Odisha. Speaking at BJD’s Jan Sampark Padyatra at Dasrathpur in Jajpur district, Das asserted that he is prepared to fight again. The statement of Das, widely known as ‘Bobby’, has triggered speculations about possible by-election in Jajpur.

While his statement has created ripples in political circles, people are eager to know whether Jajpur BJD MLA Sujata Sahu will resign to pave way for Bobby to fight a by-election. However, BJD’s Jajpur unit president Saroj Mohapatra ruled out any by-election and said the question of the sitting legislator stepping down does not arise. Under the circumstances, one wonders as to why Das made such a statement about fighting again.

While Das had asserted that he is ready to fight, it was not clear whether he spoke about contesting by-election or fighting for the development of Jajpur. Amid ambiguity in his statement, political atmosphere in the state has become surcharged. Bobby has stated that enthusiasm among party workers has given him enough strength to get ready and fight. Political observers were of the view that Das appears to be trying to return to power politics.

The BJD leader also mounted a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha and threw an open challenge. Das sought to know as to what stopped the BJP government from arresting him if he is involved in corruption. Instead of making noise and wild allegations, the BJP government should put him behind the bars if he has done any corruption, he said.

Amid speculations about a possible by-election in Jajpur to enable Pranab to enter the Assembly, BJD district president Saroj Mohapatra firmly ruled out any move in this direction. Stating that there is no question of any by-election in Jajpur, he said Pranab spoke about fight for protecting the interests of the people of Jajpur and development of the area. Pranab did not speak about fighting by-election as he is capable of working for BJD and people without becoming a legislator, Mohapatra said.

Similarly, BJD MLA from Jajpur Sujata Sahu also made it clear that there will be no by-election as she has no plan to resign. The legislator clarified that Pranab Das did not say anything regarding by-election in Jajpur. The senior leader simply spoke about fighting for the development of Jajpur, she said.

Both Mohapatra and Sahu stated that the statement of Pranab Das was twisted and misrepresented in media.