MP Munna Khan claims BJD may not have to wait for 5 years to come back to power; BJP hits back

Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Munna Khan stirred up a hornet’s nest and triggered an uproar in Odisha politics again on Sunday by claiming that BJD may not have to wait for five years to come back to power.

“Had BJP any candidates? Mostly BJD leaders are there. Let’s wait for the time. There is dissatisfaction all over Odisha that the government is not functioning well. There are also problems inside them. BJD is coming to the fore again and we expect that there will be something good,” said Munna Khan.

Earlier, the senior BJD leader had also launched a blistering attack on the saffron party, saying it is just a whistle away from crumbling. He had made the tall claims that 14 BJP MLAs are in touch with BJD and can help them dissolve the current BJP government.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra had said that he is doubtful whether BJD will exist till 2029 or not.

In response to Jaynarayan’s statement, Munna said that he shouldn't think about the party as the party has not thought about him. 

“I respect Jaynarayan Mishra a lot. He is like my elder brother. I don’t want to tell him anything as he has given his opinion. I would like to request him that he should not think much about the party rather he should think about himself. His health is not well and his blood pressure might be rising. This is why he might be giving these kinds of statements in anger,” said Munna.

Responding to Munna's statement, BJP hit back. Ruling party MLA Babu Singh lambasted Munna Khan by saying that the BJD leader doesn’t know politics.

“I would like to thank Munna bhai as he became a parliamentarian very late by working very hard. However, he should read and know a little about politics. Earlier he was saying that 14 BJP MLAs are in contact with BJD. Will he tell their names openly? Rather, two Rajya Sabha MPs left BJD to join BJP. Can he tell the name of a single BJP MLA who is in touch with BJD?” asked Singh.

On the other hand, Congress slammed both BJP and BJD over their statements by saying that it’s not a good sign for democracy.

“BJP and BJD are claiming that leaders from both sides will switch their allegiance. However, it is ridiculous. It is not a good sign for democracy. Senior leaders of BJD are not interested in joining BJP, rather they are interested in joining Congress. Congress will benefit due to the squabble between BJP and BJD. Leaders from both parties will join Congress in future,” said senior leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati.