Rift in Puri BJD? Key leaders' absence during crucial meeting at Pratap Deb’s residence raises eyebrows

It seems as if all is not well within BJD ranks in Puri. Speculation of discord has arisen within the Puri faction of the Opposition party following a meeting at the residence of senior leader Pratap Deb.

The gathering included several prominent members of the party, such as MP Subhasish Khuntia, District President Uma Samantaray, and former MLA Rudra Maharathy, in addition to numerous block-level leaders.

However, the absence of sitting MLAs Sunil Mohanty and Tusharkanti Behera, along with senior district figure Sanjay Das Burma, has only added fuel to the fire.

New Committee Formation Raises Questions

Merely two days before, the BJD had announced a new disciplinary committee. Meanwhile, the timing of the meeting at Deb's residence, so soon after the committee's formation, has raised eyebrows.

What BJD Leaders Say

According to MP Subhasish Khuntia, they gathered to discuss the organisational status of the party in the district. 

"We discussed the organisational matter of the party in the district. After the announcement of the district president, presidents of all the blocks and urban local bodies will be announced, and the discussion was based on that aspect," said Khuntia.

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However, Puri MLA Sunil Mohanty said," Had it been a district-level meeting, I must have been invited along with Kakatpur MLA Tusharkanti Behera and Sanjay Das Burma. If it was a district-level meeting, the leaders of all the constituencies within the district must have been present there."

Meanwhile, BJD Leader Sudhir Samal said, "The Chief Minister does not need a disciplinary committee when the party is in power. Everyone maintains discipline during that period. However, when the party falters, the discipline within the party inevitably crumbles, necessitating its creation."