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“I have four major points to make, and I will do it at a later time,” Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP, Bhartruhari Mahatab said this on Monday upon being questioned about his absence in party’s foundation day programme at Puri on December 26.
It is pertinent to mention here that the veteran BJD leader and Cuttack MP was absent in the event and nobody could say why.
Interestingly, BJD MP from Puri, Pinaki Misra was also absent in the programme. While it was announced that Misra had some health conditions forcing him to cancel his visit to Puri, no announcements were made on the absence of Mahatab.
Speaking to reporters, Mahatab said, “I have four points to make and I will do it later. Pinaki Misra was also absent in the event. You should ask him this question too.”
Asked about BJP’s focus on all the MP seats in Odisha, Mahatab said, “They have been doing so since 2014. In fact, the BJP had secured around 4 lakh votes in Cuttack making them our main opponent.”
Speaking about Mahatab’s absence, BJD leader Devi Mishra said, “It is not mandatory to be present at the foundation day event. He (Mahatab) might have some health issues we do not of. So, we should not assume anything out of context.”
The Biju Janata Dal was founded on December 26, 1997. It was named after legendary leader Biju Patnaik who is the father of current Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. The BJD first formed the government in alliance with the BJP in the state and it continued till 2009.
(Reported By Harihar Chand, OTV)
