Soumya Ranjan Patnaik met Union Home Minister Amit Shah: BJP's Jayanarayan Mishra

At a time when Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik has been maintaining a stoic silence since his expulsion from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jayanarayan Mishra on Monday made a startling revelation. 

Mishra said he received information that Patnaik has met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. 

“He owns the newspaper. I am yet to understand why he has stepped down as its editor.  But I heard him meeting Amit Shah,” said Mishra. 

When asked if he will join the BJP, Mishra said, “I can’t say anything regarding this. But after meeting Amit Shah, he said he met the Union Home Minister as the government isn't functioning in accordance with the democratic system. He had apprised him (Amit Shah) of the present political situation in Odisha.” 

No reactions could be obtained from MLA Patnaik in this regard. 

On the other hand, Patnaik stepping down as the editor of the newspaper that he owns a day before the paper’s 40th-anniversary celebration has given rise to several speculations and questions. While the invitation card has his name as the editor of the newspaper, the celebration is all set to be held tomorrow.