Odisha: Deceased Woman Leader’s Name Finds Mention In Office-Bearers’ List Of BMJD

Berhampur: The name of a deceased woman leader has found mention in the list of executive body members of Biju Mahila Janata Dal (BMJD), the women wing of ruling BJD party in Odisha.

Chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik had appointed the state office-bearers and district presidents of the BMJD and the party’s organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das released the list on Wednesday.

As per list of the newly constituted office-bearers, 68 women leaders had been appointed as executive body members. It included the name of Meenakshi Mishra as executive body member of Berhampur. But she died two years back in 2020.

After Meenakshi’s son was arrested, she alleged that he was implicated in a false case by police. As a protest, she set herself ablaze in front of Berhampur SP office on February 12, 2020. She succumbed while undergoing treatment in the hospital on February 20.

When Meenakshi died, she was an executive body member of BMJD of Berhampur. Following her death, her name did not figure in the list of reconstituted executive body twice subsequently. But the inclusion of her name in the latest list has surprised the party workers as well as the people.

When contacted, Ganjam zone president of BMJD Mamata Bisoi said Meenakshi’s name has been included in the list by mistake. “I have taken note of it and informed the state leaders in this regard,” she said.