Infighting in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seems to have spread to Sambalpur district as well. Friction between several factions of the BJD was witnessed during the party’s Organisational secretary and Sambalpur observer, Pranab Prakash Das’ visit to the district on Monday.
As per reports, there was almost a competition among local leaders and even the leaders from neighbouring districts of Bargarh and Jharsuguda to welcome Das.
For instance, recently sacked Higher Education Minister, Rohit Pujari who represents Rairakhol Constituency displayed a show of strength by welcoming Das at Rairakhol and Jujumura. BJD leader from Bargarh and former minister, Sushant Singh too welcomed Das at Munder in Sambalpur.
In Maneswar, Jharsuguda leader and Naba Das’ son Viashal Das accorded Pranab Prakash Das a grand welcome. Similarly, former MLA, Raseswari Panigrahi welcomed him in the city, which fuelled speculations that there is a lingering infighting between several leaders of the BJD in Sambalpur.
However, the BJD refuted reports of infighting in the party in Sambalpur. District BJD president, Siddharth Das said, “There is no infighting in Sambalpur BJD. I was never in any race. Moreover, whoever does politics, he is ought to garner public support and try to contest in elections. It is natural.”
Not only in Sambalpur, but Ganjam politics has already heated up with reports of a rift among many factions in several constituencies. MLA Latika Pradhan from Kabisuryanagar constituency is facing stiff opposition from other leaders of her party. As per reports, BJD leaders of Kabisuryanagar, Beguniapada, and Purushottampur alleged that the MLA is ignoring the supporters of former MLA Sugnana Kumari Deo. They are even preparing to lodge a complaint with the party high command, Naveen Patnaik.
“MLA Latika has been ignoring us since she took over the reins of the Constituency despite toiling hard for her during the election campaign,” said Kabisuryanagar block Youth BJD president, Brajasundar Malik.
On the other hand, Latika’s supporters have alleged that her rivals are trying to tarnish her image by levelling false allegations.
T Brajendra Pradhan said, “The people who are going against the MLA are not from this Constituency. In fact, they are being brainwashed by some miscreants who are trying to make some quick bucks from the election.”
Similarly, Berhampur MP Chandrasekhar Sahoo and local MLA, Bikram Panda’s relationship has reportedly soured.
The story of BJD’s in fighting is more or less the same in almost all the districts. This is said to be mainly because of multiple ticket aspirants for the same seat, opined experts.
Speaking on the matter, senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “One leader has been assured a ticket while another leader is doing all the groundwork in the same constituency. It has created confusion among the BJD ticket aspirants in many areas. The party has to overcome this challenge before 2024 elections.”