Ahead of the upcoming elections, a rift in the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Khallikote constituency of Ganjam has reportedly widened due to an internecine squabble.
Scores of BJD workers raised a banner of protest against MLA Suryamani Baidya and thronged Naveen Niwas, the residence of party supremo & Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.
The disgruntled BJD workers shouted slogans - “Remove Suryamani Baidya and save Khallikote” on Naveen Niwas premises. Later they met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Minister Usha Devi and submitted a memorandum to the two.
The agitating BJD workers alleged that the MLA in the last five years has only taken ‘PC’ and created anarchy in Khallikote in collusion with land and liquor mafias.
They also alleged that MLA’s husband Daitari Behera is an undisciplined BJD worker.
Simanchal Gouda, a BJD worker, fumed against the incumbent MLA, saying, “As soon as she was elected MLA, she started her hooliganism. She made her husband chairperson of the Khallikote block and inflicted irreparable damage to the BJD. As a result, people in Khallikote have revolted against the MLA.”
Another disgruntled BJD leader Chakrapani Rout alleged that in the last five years, the MLA opposed them and runs her hegemony with the help of newbie workers and hooligans. “The MLA is really neglecting BJD workers and pitting people against each other in villages. Corruption is high everywhere in the constituency,” said Rout.
No reaction was received from the legislator.