No Intention To Join Any Party: Ex-BJD Leader Prafulla Ghadai

Bhubaneswar: Former BJD leader and Finance Minister, Prafulla Ghadai on Thursday made it clear that he had no intention of joining any party.

“I have decided that I won’t join any party as I am not going contest the election anymore,” Ghadai told the media.

Earlier, his colleague and expelled BJD leader Damodar Rout, had informed the media that Ghadai will be joining his (Rout’s) new outfit, which will be formed by the end of October this year.

“Both of us have worked together over a long period of time. But I don’t know why he is trying to billow the smoke when there is no fire. I have neither had any discussion with him or any of the leaders regarding my joining the new outfit,” Ghadai claimed.

Ghadai was expelled from the party on September 20, 2014, by the party president Naveen Patnaik for indulging in anti-party activities. He said that since the day he was removed as a minister, he has had no word with the private secretary to the Chief Minister.

“After all, as I am a political leader, I never discuss politics with any bureaucrat. There are several people who have immensely damaged my political career by misleading the party’s top brass by speaking against me. I have no intention to join any party as I am not willing to contest the election in the future,” he maintained.

Commenting on Ghadai’s statement, Dama said the former had begun his political career as a leftist leader. But after joining the Janata Dal, power and money got the better of him. If he had self-respect, he would not have given such a statement considering the manner and circumstances in which he was thrown out of the party.

“I feel he has given such a statement to keep his property intact and convert his black money into white. I have not had any word with Ghadai since the last six months. So what is the reason of his giving such an opinion against me? The bottom line is, he is trying to appease the party’s top brass. In fact, BJD is the only party where you can make money safely and without any fear. He may be waiting for a call to make a comeback to the party fold,” Dama pointed out.