Bhubaneswar: In a direct attack on his party, BJP’s Sambalpur MLA Jaynarayan Mishra on Saturday said he was being sidelined and targeted deliberately by his party leaders in Odisha.
Speaking at a condolence meeting of veteran BJP leader from Cuttack Samir Dey, Mishra said he was facing similar situation in the party like Dey.
“Whatever happened to the political career of Dey is happening in my case now. The BJP did not give Dey his position even as he was a sincere and loyal working of the party,” the MLA said.
The former Leader of the Opposition in Assembly further said Dey was arm-twisted and threatened by henchmen deployed by the party. Now, he was facing similar threats, he added.
“I was kicked out of ABVP and at present, the BJP is sidelining me. I have been rendered to a leader of no significance,” he added.
“It has been a pre-determined plan of the party to put up somebody against me always,” he said in another stinging statement.
State BJP president Manmohan Samal brushed aside Mishra’s allegations. “No such thing has happened. The party treats everyone fairly. There could be some misunderstanding,” he told reporters.
It may be noted that Mishra faces a criminal case. He had allegedly slapped IIC of Dhanupali police station Anitarani Pradhan on February 15, 2023. The Supreme Court dismissed Mishra’s anticipatory bail application.