The presence of Remuna MLA Sudhanshu Parida, who along with Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was expelled from the BJD for their alleged anti-people activities, in the party’s organisational meeting held at Bhimapura in Remuna of Balasore district has created ripples in the party.
On September 21, party supremo Naveen Patnaik himself announced the expulsion of Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Remuna MLA Sudhanshu Parida, citing their anti-people activities as the reason.
The BJD had its organisational meeting at Bhimapura yesterday. As of now, what has become the matter of discussion is not the meeting but the presence of Remuna MLA Parida in the meeting.
While his appearance at the meeting caused dissatisfaction among the party workers, question is being asked as to who invited MLA Parida to the meeting, ignoring the dictate of party high command.
While addressing the meeting, BJD’s Balasore district vice president Prabhat Biswal said the meeting had been conducted the way district observer Pratap Deb had directed.
Similarly, the Remuna legislator while addressing the gathering said he came to the meeting following the direction from the above.
During a telephonic conversation with a miffed party worker, Deb admitted that Parida was invited to the party at his direction. But when OTV contacted him over his mobile phone, he parried the question saying the matter was party’s internal affair.
In the political corridors, it is now being discussed that Parida was expelled from the party only to make it appear that the party is strict with anyone whoever is involved in anti-party activities.
“Pratap Deb is not only the district observer but also a senior Minister. What he is doing is only putting party workers in trouble. His appearance sends out a message that the CM’s announcement is wrong and Parida is still with the party,” said Subhendu Das, senior journalist.
“It indicates that if Parida is kept away from the party meetings, a large section of leaders and workers may keep themselves away from the party,” he added.