LIVE TV
Odisha
Photo: OTV
Recommended Stories
With the crucial 2024 elections around the corner, it seems that the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) now faces a new challenge. Surprisingly, the challenge is not from the Opposition side. Rather, BJD has now turned into its own enemy.
Such speculations are now rife as several groups within the BJD have started organising meetings against BJD MLAs. Such parallel organisations in the name of ‘Bandhu Milan’ have now become the order of the day, be it Jagatsinghpur, Balasore or any other district. Surprisingly such programmes are being organised by party leaders against BJD MLAs.
The situation is even worse in Jagatsinghpur district. A face-off-like situation has cropped up between BJD MLA Prashant Muduli and former district president Amarendra Das. Das showed his strength by organising a ‘Bandhu Milan,’ and trained his guns on MLA Prashant Muduli.
“Why the MLA has fear for which he doesn’t call those who work for the party,” alleged Das.
Meanwhile, Muduli could not be contacted over the allegation. BJD district president, Rabi Narayan Jena said, “BJD is a big family and there are differences. BJD Supremo is everything and whenever his instructions come, everybody works together.”
Not only Jagatsinghpur Assembly Constituency, a similar situation has also cropped up in Balikuda-Ersama. BJD Youth leader Sanjib Biswal is now up in arms against MLA Raghunandan Das and is creating a parallel organisation by calling dissident leaders and workers into the camp.
At a meeting at Tarasahi, Biswal said, “Ticket depends on CM’s instruction. There is resentment among people and I am confident of working for the welfare of the people.”
Responding to this, MLA Raghunanadan Das said, “Those who are saying that the MLA is not doing work are wrong as I am going to the people and doing everything possible.”
Similarly, there is also a cold war-type situation between BJD MP Rajashree Mallick and MLA Bijay Shankar Das in Tirtol. Apart from this, there is a power tussle between Paradip MLA Sambit Routray and Paradip Municipality chairman, Basant Biswal.
Not only in Jagatsinghpur, but a similar situation has also cropped up for the BJD in Balasore. Politics has now heated up after the party’s MLA candidate from Nilagiri in last election, Santosh Khatua was manhandled by party activists. A video of the incident has also gone viral on social media. It is alleged that the party activists and supporters of BJD leader, Sarat Raj were involved in the incident in the presence of district observer, Pratap Deb.
“In the crowd, there was a tussle. I don’t think it was due to some protest or opposition,” said Khatua.
BJD district president, Ashwini Patra said, “The issue of a tussle within the party in Nilagiri is not a major issue for us.”
According to sources, party's former Balasore district president, Rabindra Jena, and other MLAs are also not on good terms. It is said that a rebellion is brewing within the BJD.
- Reported by:
- HARIHARA CHAND
