Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain faces opposition in home turf

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers on Wednesday opposed Athagarh BJD MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain during his attendance at a Panchayat Samiti meeting in Tigiria block in Cuttack district. The protest occurred outside the block office as the BJP workers demonstrated against the MLA.

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The situation intensified when a confrontation ensued between workers of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and BJP, resulting in a minor scuffle and sloganeering. As tensions heightened, police officers intervened to escort the MLA’s vehicle away from the scene, underscoring the charged atmosphere outside the block office.

Keeping in mind the prevalent tension in nearby areas, personnel from Tigiria Police Station have been stationed at the site to ensure that law and order is maintained.

MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain has not commented on the incident yet.

“Ranendra Pratap Swain has been representing Athagarh Assembly constituency for the last 35 years. This protest was a reflection of resident’s resentment brewing against him. The locals questioned the MLA ‘what is his role in the panchayat meeting’. Awas, ration card, and pension schemes have been distributed among BJD workers alone,” Cuttack (Grameen) BJP district unit president Ramanarayan Mohanty said.

“Allegations of corruption have been framed against the MLA and we have every right to question him. The BJD legislator will be vehemently opposed in every village under this Assembly constituency, wherever he would go. This was a token protest and the agitation will be intensified in the days ahead,” the local BJP leader stated.

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“We have lodged an FIR seeking justice. BJP workers created a disturbance outside when the Panchayat Samiti meeting was underway. You (media) see the visuals. We were conducting the meeting led by MLA Raja Bhai. What is troubling the BJP workers?” Zilla Parishad member from Zone No-15 under Tigiria block, Sasmita Rout questioned.