BJD workers raise slogans against VK Pandian, Manas Mangaraj in Sankha Bhawan

Following the poll debacle in the recently-concluded 2024 General Elections in Odisha, fissures seem to be apparent within the BJD over 5T Chairman VK Pandian.

After some senior leaders of the party went vocal about the reason behind the party's poor show, some youth leaders and workers of BJD reportedly expressed their resentment by raising slogans against the bureaucrat-turned-politician Pandian at Sankha Bhawan, the BJD headquarters in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Around 25 young BJD workers, who are holding some party posts, expressed their resentment and raised slogans against Pandian and the party's Rajya Sabha MPs Manas Mangaraj terming them responsible for the party's abysmal performance in the election.  They also opposed Sasmit Patra for coming in defence, as per reports.

The agitators have also warned to intensify their protests and stage demonstrations of their official residences if action is not taken against them within 48 hours.

As per reports, the unsavoury incident happened after BJD's organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das called the young party workers to Sankha Bhawan to give them solace after the party's poor show in the election.

However, following strong protests, Pranab reportedly tried to pacify the protesting party workers by assuring them that BJD president Naveen Patnaik would take a decision in this regard soon.

It has also been learnt that Pranab has informed the protesting workers about the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya to look into the matter.

However, no comments could be obtained from senior BJD leaders in this regard.