New Delhi: Congress today described dissidence in ruling BJD in Odisha as an "internal matter" of that party. "Congress party has nothing to do with it. It is an internal matter of BJD", party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters in reply to a volley of questions on the issue. He said Congress was "not opposing or supporting anybody".
BJD President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is in London, had last night deplored the attempts to divide the party. The Odisha Chief Minister`s statement last night had come close on the heels of several legislators gathering at the residence of senior party MP Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, stated to be close to Patnaik, in Bhubaneshwar to discuss their grievances and party matters. Mohapatra today ruled out any plans to topple the Chief Minister but admitted to differences with him as he felt the state government was gradually "losing control" due to "arrogance" of bureaucrats.
Reports had it that till recently Patnaik and Mohapatra, his principal advisor and Rajya Sabha MP, were the best of friends but the friendship seems to have taken a hit with Naveen replacing him with a new set of advisors. Congress is out of power in Odisha for 12 years with the advent of Patnaik on the state`s political scene and BJP has been on the downhill since 2009 assembly elections. A senior Congress leader, who declined to be identified, said the developments in Bhubaneshwar were helpful for the party.