The exclusion of senior party leader & MLA, Susanta Singh from BJD’s team for the ensuing Jharsuguda bypoll has further heated up the politics in the State with the Opposition parties, BJP and Congress claiming that the move proves the former's involvement in the killing of cabinet minister Naba Das.
Launching a broadside on the conch party, Odisha BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said the ruling BJD has proved the claims of involvement of its leader in the murder of Das by dropping Singh from the team formed for the bypoll management.
"There is involvement of the BJD leader in Naba Das murder case and the party has officially proved it. There is resentment among Naba Das' supporters and hence, BJD has intentionally dropped the leader to save the party from their ire,” Harichandan said.
Echoing a similar opinion, Congress alleged that there were claims over Singh’s involvement in the cabinet minister’s murder case. With Singh being dropped from the observers’ list, the claims seem to be more evident.
“He (Susanta Singh) was appointed observer many times. But for the Jharsuguda bypoll, the western Odisha leader has been dropped from the list. There are claims that he is involved in Naba Das murder case and the move lends credence to the allegations,” Congress MLA, Santosh Singh Saluja said.
Though no comments from Singh have been received, BJD MP Mahesh Sahoo said, "We have nothing to do with whatever the Opposition says."
“The decision has been taken by party supremo Naveen Patnaik to strengthen the organization. We have nothing to do with the Opposition’s claims. They are not the judge,” Sahoo added.