Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab snaps ties with BJD

Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab resigned from the BJD's primary membership on Friday. 

While addressing a press meet, the Parliamentarian said, “The party was formed to fight against corruption and to stay away from self-aggrandizement. Believing this, the people of Odisha supported the party. But during the last few years, things went wrong and I often raised the issues but nothing happened. So I have distanced myself from the party. I believe I can do the work for what I had joined the party, more freely after quitting the party.”

“I was criticised for sharing my views freely, or even if I said something, it was distorted and discussed. So I decided to distance myself. You may have noticed that I have not been saying anything about party matters because I failed to rectify them,” he said. 

Also Read: 'Assault' on police officer: Court frames charges against Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab

Referring to an episode from the Ramayan, he said he severed his relationship with the party to build Odisha in a better way. “And everything has a limit. And I have drawn the line because things have crossed the limits of patience,” he said. 

When asked if he would join the BJP, he said, “Before taking any decision, I would like to have consultations with my well-wishers and friends.” 
Regarding an alliance in Odisha, he said, “An unethical alliance was going to happen. Now that the air has been cleared that there will be no alliance, it is a good sign for democracy." 

“My decision to snap my umbilical cord with the party may be harsh but it gives me immense relief. This is because I had been living with a kind of pain. When it became unbearable, I took the decision,” said the six-time Parliamentarian.

Commenting on the Cuttack MP’s resignation from the party, BJD leader Pratap Jena said, “Our leader Naveen Patnaik and our party Biju Janata Dal made him MP six times. BJD has shown respect to him. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has heard him, and given importance to his words. When he felt he had lost his popularity and when he realized that he wouldn’t get another opportunity to be a candidate, he left us. It is sad that he has left the party that has made him MP six times.”

Notably, Mahtab’s move came a day after the Special Court for MP/MLAs framed charges against him in connection with the alleged assault on a police officer.