BJD pulls its socks up to tackle infighting in Sambalpur

At a time when the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is struggling with infighting in every constituency, the fissure in Sambalpur is said to be widening. To address the same, a meeting was held at the party office, Sankha Bhawan, in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. 

The infighting in Sambalpur came to the fore during the recent visit of Sambalpur observer Pranab Prakash Das to the district. With a view to curb the infighting, a meeting was held at Sankha Bhawan where the party’s organisation in four constituencies of Sambalpur district (Rairakhol, Kuchinda, Sambalpur and Rengali) was discussed. 

Later, the party workers were asked to bury the hatchet and work while maintaining cooperation and coordination. 
The reason why BJD is laying emphasis on Sambalpur lies in the fact that the leader of opposition (LoP) Jaynarayan Mishra and Nauri Nayak won from Sambalpur and Rengali seats respectively. And, the BJP also won the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat. 

“We discussed how we would intensify our fight and how we will complete the incomplete works. This apart, we will also make sure that the yojanas launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are being implemented properly,” said Rohit Pujari, BJD MLA.  

Regarding the infighting in the BJD, BJP MLA Nauri Nayak said, “Due to the importance being accorded to turncoats, infighting in the BJD, which was out in the open during his (Pranab Prakash Das) visit to the district, is rising.”

On the other hand, the Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD)’s executive meeting was held today where it has been decided that the protest against the centre for its alleged step-motherly attitude towards Odisha would be intensified. 

“We have many issues to prove how the centre has been neglecting the state. We have submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister, seeking his permission to hold ‘Sankalp Samavesh’ at district headquarters,” said Byomakesh Ray, president of the BYJD. 

In this regard, BJP spokesperson, Biranchi Narayan Tripathy said, “They (the BJD) don’t have any issues to raise against the central government. We have gone to the people to make them aware that how the state government has hijacked the central schemes and programmes. In the coming days, we will hit the street over these issues.”