Close on the heels of the resignation of BJD's Telkoi MLA, Premananda Nayak, former BJD leader and Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi took a dig at the party saying it is in self-destruction mode.
“BJD’s self-destruction mode is already on. You will see how they destroy themselves soon. MLAs like Premananda and Ramesh Sai have left the party. There are other MLAs too who are in the line to resign from the party,” Panigrahi said while speaking to reporters on Friday.
However, it is still unclear if Athamallik MLA, Ramesh Sai has resigned yet.
Hinting at VK Pandian’s alleged autocracy in the party, Panigrahi said, “I have even heard that a bureaucrat-turned-politician in BJD was involved in a bitter face off with another MLA over drinking a glass of water.”
“People in Odisha know what standard the MLAs have in front of him (Pandian). Their (BJD MLAs) level has gone down against Pandian. I do not know what the people can expect from such a party,” Panigrahi added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Panigrahi, who has been expelled from the BJD, had earlier said that Premananda Nayak has resigned from party. But his claims could not be verified back then as Nayak himself was mum on the issue. But Panigrahi’s words were proven true today after Nayak announced his resignation.
Nayak said he was being sidelined by the party. He had sent his resignation letter to CM Naveen Patnaik and organisational secretary through e-mail in October last year, he informed.
As per sources, Nayak was upset that he wasn’t allowed to meet CM Naveen Patnaik over various issues in his constituency. Furthermore, former Champua MLA Dhanurjay Sidu, the main opponent of Nayak, was allowed to join BJD. On the other hand, no one got in touch with him and tried to listen to his pleas even after he sent his resignation. So, he decided to resign from the party’s primary membership, it was learned.
No comments were received from the BJD.