A few days after quitting the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), six-time MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, came down heavily on the Naveen Patnaik-led government. Expressing displeasure over the party’s functioning, the senior politician asserted that the collapse of the party is inevitable.
“BJD's pot of sin is full to its brim and may burst anytime soon,” the senior leader said in an editorial post.
Being associated with BJD for a long time, Mahtab revealed how the party was worker-friendly until Naveen Patnaik took over. He revealed a political affairs committee handled all the issues of the party during its initial days. However, all the power was handed over to two persons after 2004, he added.
He also asserted that BJD had diverted from real issues, for which the party was formed and is currently engaged only in corruption and injustice.
“Like Sita Mata, our state has been surrounded by corruption, crime and injustice. The time has come to take the step that Lord Ram took to save Sita Mata (Odisha),” read his post.
No comments could be obtained from BJD in this connection.
On the other hand, he also came down heavily on Cuttack BJD President Debasish Samantaray who accused Mahtab of being the reason for his defeat in the last election.
“If he thinks he is so popular, let him fight the Lok Sabha elections. I’m no more fighting as BJD candidate, so let him fight this time and show if he wins,” Mahtab stated.
However, he remained tight-lipped about his future plans and if he is planning to join any party soon.
Notably, Bhartruhari Mahtab, son of Odisha’s first CM Harekrushna Mahtab, had been representing the prestigious Cuttack parliamentary seat since 1998. He had also been BJD’s floor leader in Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019.