At a time when the plot has thickened for the upcoming General Election in Odisha, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Ganjam district has been hit with internecine squabble. Several leaders and workers of BJD have expressed their resentment after sitting MLA Latika Pradhan who has been given the party ticket from Kabisuryanagar again.
Another group from the BJD, known to be the supporters of former MLA late Sugnana Kumari Deo, staged a sit-in at Kodala against the move to make Latika the party candidate again. They shouted slogans against Latika. Many leaders among the protestors alleged that they were neglected within the party.
“Neither the leaders nor the people in the constituency have any kind of self-respect now. Several people are dissatisfied with the Kabisuryanagar MLA’s work done in the last five years. We have tried to unite them to work with fresh thoughts while keeping development activities in their minds,” said Sanjeev Kumar Sahu, a protesting BJD leader from Kodala.
“Former MLA Latika has been indulged in corruption. However, she has been repeated as a party candidate from Kabisuryanagar. With the late queen’s behest, we had supported her. However, no developmental works have been undertaken in the constituency during her tenure,” rued Gopalakrushna Sahu, another BJD leader from Kodala.
However, Latika refuted all the allegations against her by the party workers.
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“Some inactive members of BJD are staging protests for their vested interests. If they want to leave the party due to their vested interests, I have nothing to say. They have never been neglected within the party. Their protests will never affect the performance of the party in the constituency. All the active members of the party are supporting and helping me,” said Latika.