Corporator Bandita Pal joins BJP after quitting BJD; fissures widen further in Opposition party

Following the poll debacle in the last General Elections, the fissure within Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is gradually widening. It was further evident after BJD’s Bhubaneswar Corporator from Ward No. 37-Bandita Pal quit the Opposition party to join the ruling BJP on Friday. 

Along with Bandita, her husband Arjun Behera and Chhatra BJD vice-president Prabhudutta Samal also joined the saffron party in the presence of Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal.

After joining BJP, Bandita targeted Bhubaneswar Central MLA Ananta Narayan Jena for her resignation from BJD. She alleged that Ananta was intentionally interrupting the developmental activities and putting her into trouble. 

“Bhubaneswar Central MLA was not supporting me. Though I informed party supremo Naveen Patnaik, former 5T Chairman VK Pandian and party organizational secretary Pranab Prakash Das about the issue for umpteen times, nothing happened. As a result, I was forced to quit the party. I don’t fear anybody. I will always raise my voice for the people,” said Bandita.

“People voted for BJP government by discarding BJD after 24 years of governance. We will be with the party vying for development and help people in the process,” said Arjun.

Meanwhile, another BJD corporator Amaresh Jena threw his weight behind Bandita by expressing his dissatisfaction over the functioning of the party. He also brought serious allegations against Ananta.

“Bunu (nickname of Ananta) Janata Dal is running in Bhubaneswar instead of Biju Janata Dal. Many BJD corporators are dissatisfied with the issue. Many of them are in contact with BJP and they are looking for suitable chances to switch over to the party,” said Amaresh.

According to political experts, BJD’s inner squabble in Bhubaneswar will put the party into trouble in future.

“Many corporators of BJD are dissatisfied with the party. Many of them may join BJP in the coming days. BJD’s current position in Bhubaneswar may put the party into further trouble in the State,” said senior journalist Akshay Sahu.