Bhubaneswar: Proving the age-old saying that there are no permanent friends or foes in politics where interest reigns supreme, two veteran leaders of Congress and BJP are reportedly campaigning for their sons, who are contesting the upcoming elections in Odisha as BJD candidates.
Veteran Congress leader and Jatani MLA Suresh Routray has come out in support of his younger son Manmath, BJD nominee for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency. Similarly, Bijoy Mohapatra, who is still in BJP, was seen campaigning for his son Arabinda, who is contesting from the Patkura Assembly constituency as a BJD nominee. Bijoy was seen at a meeting in Kalapada recently as electioneering gained momentum in Patkura in Kendrapada district.
Once a bitter critic of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Bijoy’s presence at a meeting of the regional party after over 24 years has raised eyebrows among his colleagues from BJP. The saffron party is reported to be planning action against him.
BJP’s Kendrapada district unit president Kishore Panda said that he has informed the party leadership about the activities of Bijoy and appropriate action is likely to be taken against him.
Taking strong exception to Bijoy’s move, local BJP leaders reportedly said that the veteran leader had been attacking the BJD government for over two decades but now, has now come close to the ruling party after allowing his son to join the regional outfit. Now that his son has been nominated by BJD for Patkura Assembly seat, Bijoy is canvassing for him forgetting that he had all along been humiliated by the ruling party and its chief.
It is shocking that Bijoy is campaigning for BJD though he still continues to be in BJP, said another leader.
Dismissing the claims, Bijoy said he attended the meeting as per the request of some BJD leaders as his son was to be felicitated. While Bijoy’s supporters expressed happiness over Arabinda’s candidature, loyal BJD leaders are unhappy as they feel sidelined.
Similar is the scene in Bhubaneswar where Congress veteran Suresh Routray was on Saturday seen campaigning for his BJD nominee son Manmath in some areas of the Lok Sabha constituency. Much to the chagrin of the Congress leadership, Routray was seen meeting people in a park and appealing them to vote for his son.
The Jatani MLA’s campaign has triggered controversy as despite being served notice by his party recently, the firebrand leader has justified his support for Manmath. He speaks about the sanctity of father-son relationship over political affiliations.
The Congress leader’s move has also fueled speculation about a potential fissure within the party ranks. The grand old party is yet to announce its candidate for Bhubaneswar Parliamentary constituency. Suresh Routray said being a Congress member he will not attend any rally or election meeting of his son but he cannot ignore his presence in the poll fray.
