Berhampur: The meeting of former BJD MP Siddhant Mohapatra with senior party leaders of Ganjam district on Wednesday has led to speculation of his return to active politics.
Siddhant attended a puja in the house of former Berhampur MLA and Ganjam district BJD president Ramesh Chandra Choupatnaik at Bhavanagar in Berhampur on the day. During the puja, he interacted with other leaders and workers of the party.
Later, the Ollywood superstar held a closed-door meeting with some leaders of Chhatrapur and Gopalpur Assembly constituencies at a guest house in Jagannathpur on the outskirts of Berhampur.
Speaking to the media, Siddhant said, “I have been working for the party in tune the instructions of BJD president Naveen Patnaik. I came to Berhampur on the invitation of Chhoupatnaik after obtaining the permission from the BJD president.”
According to party sources, Siddhant discussed about the party organisation in Chhatrapur and Gopalpur and developmental works in the area. During his two tenures as MP from Berhampur, Siddhant had a good base in these two constituencies.
Since the party organisation has weakened in both places due to squabbling among the local leaders, political analysts hold that Siddhant’s visit may lead to his return to Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency. Siddhant had distanced himself from active politics, just before the last elections when he was not renominated from the constituency by the BJD.
Meanwhile, Chhoupatnaik said Siddhant is an active member of the party and was its MP for two times. “He is working to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. He is not working with the intention to get party ticket in coming election. Only the party president will decide who will get the tickets,” he added.
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