Odishatv Bureau

Bolangir: Rift in the Bolangir unit of BJD surfaced after party activists recently held meetings against party's Loisingha legislator Jogendra Behera alleging that he has failed to connect with the people.

Party activists including Bolangir district vice president Pradeep Guru alleged that the Loisingha MLA has failed to connect with the people and is not carrying out development works in the constituency.

Interestingly, the meetings in Buruda and Bindhapalli, where such allegations were made, were organised by representatives of the party's Bolangir district president and MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo.

"The MLA fund of Behera is utilized in other constituencies. Under whose directive he is doing so and to serve whose interests? To save the party organisation, a leader should connect with the people. But the same is not being carried out by the MLA as he is a resident of Titlagarh," Guru stated.

According to sources, in the meeting held at Bindhapalli, party activists also discussed lodging complaint against Behera before the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, the Loisingha MLA refuted the charges and said "Those who are holding such meetings are not party activists. Instead, they are only representatives of some party leaders.  Moreover, several works have been carried out in the constituency which was ignored for several years."

He further took jibes at detractors and questioned, "Have I come from Pakistan that they are calling me a foreigner?"

Earlier, there had been arguments and clashes between supporters of Behera and Singhdeo which many feel are an indication of rift within the party's district unit.

Though Singhdeo did not comment on the issue, BJD's Kantabanji MLA Ayub Khan said the district president should take everyone along to strengthen the party organisation.

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