Political slugfest starts in Odisha after Jaynarayan Mishra’s explosive statement

Senior BJP leader Jaynarayan Mishra’s explosive statement at the condolence meeting organised in memory of former Minister Samir Dey has triggered a political slugfest in Odisha.

Earlier a day before, Jaynarayan had said that he had been sidelined in the BJP.

“I have been driven away many times. I have been driven away from the ABVP and also the BJP. Now, I have been sidelined by the BJP. It is part and parcel of my life. A person was deployed against me and it is a well-thought-out plan for the party,” said Mishra.

However, in response, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal said that Jaynarayan’s statement was misunderstood. 

“He (Jaynarayan) has said nothing and it was a condolence meeting. Nothing about it should be discussed. All the workers are given equal respect in BJP,” said Samal.

Meanwhile, Opposition BJD launched a scathing attack on BJP over Jaynarayan’s statement.

Without taking anybody’s name, BJD senior leader Prasanna Acharya said that it is being claimed that there have been fissures in BJD but now it has transpired that where the internal squabbles are.

Read Also: I have been sidelined in BJP: MLA Jaynarayan Mishra makes explosive statement 

“Fire has been ignited in their party (BJP) and the statement of a senior BJP MLA is proof of which party is divided and which party is united. Our leader Naveen Patnaik is still a popular leader and BJD is united under his leadership,” said Acharya.

However, in response, BJP said that Jaynarayan’s statement is being misinterpreted by BJD.

“Jaynarayan Mishra is not saying anything like that. He is an open-hearted person. He has never talked about any division. BJD is misinterpreting his statement and saying like that. The fire that has been ignited within BJD can never be extinguished,” said BJP MLA Saroj Padhi.

On the other hand, political experts are of the opinion that this kind of statement by Jaynarayan when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were in Bhubaneswar is a matter of concern for BJP.

“There is inner squabble within every party. However, this kind of statement by Jaynarayan when Prime Minister Naranedra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were in Bhubaneswar is a matter of concern for Odisha BJP. The senior leader seems to be unhappy with the party and that came out openly,” said political analyst Sandeep Mishra.

Though Jaynarayan had played a great role in toppling BJD from power by attacking former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, he didn’t attend BJP’s oath-taking ceremony. A question mark was also raised about his intention when he remained absent in the BJP meeting held before the winter session of the Odisha Assembly. It is evident from the incidents that Jaynarayan is dissatisfied with the party. Now, it remains to be seen how BJP will take him in the stride.