'MLA, my husband will be responsible if I die': Ex-block chairperson's video goes viral in Odisha 

Amidst heightened campaigning for the 2024 elections, a purported video of former block chairperson of Chandbali in Bhadrak, Manasi Sahoo went viral in which she can be heard saying, ”If I die, BJD leader and sitting MLA Bapi (Byomakesh) Ray and my husband Ranjan Sahu will be responsible.”

It can be seen that the video was probably recorded from a hospital bed. 

Ranjan Sahoo is the husband of Manasi and the current Zilla Parishad member of zone-II. 

However, reactions of the sitting MLA and the Zilla Parishad member have not been received as to why Manasi made such a video. 

While the public buzz in the area now centres around the video, a photo of Ranjan Sahu along with BJD organizational secretary Pranab Prakash Das was uploaded on the Facebook page of Byomakesh Ray. It is said that Manasi made the video after this photo was uploaded on Facebook.

While locals are perplexed about the link of the photo with Manasi's panic reaction in the video, BJP leader Chandan Rout alleged that Rajan Sahoo was keen to merge with the BJP and that’s why he might have been kidnapped and hidden somewhere. 

“The woman might be sensing a threat to her life. She might be in danger. We heard that the phones of the couple are unreachable. This video has come after Byomakesh Ray uploaded a photo of Ranjan together with Pranab on his Facebook page last night,” Chandan claimed, demanding an impartial investigation into the matter.

He added that the Home Department and the State Commission for Women should take immediate steps to save the life of the woman and look into why she panicked.

(Report by Trilochan)