Samir Dash’s supporters issue 24 hr-ultimatum to BJD to reconsider candidate name  

Supporters of Nimapara’s BJD MLA Samir Dash spewed venom at the party’s top leaders on Saturday for not reconsidering the decision to cancel the legislator's ticket for the Nimapara Assembly seat. 

Showing solidarity with their leader Dash, his supporters held a meeting in Nimapara open-air auditorium from where they targeted the party’s top leaders. The party’s presidents of 46 panchayats, presidents of 11 wards of Nimapara NAC, presidents of 41 co-operative societies, 56 panchayat and NAC-level people’s representatives and party workers went on to resign from the party. They handed their resignation letters addressed to the party’s president over to Dash. 

They also set a deadline of 24 hours for the party president to take a decision with respect to Dash’s candidature. 

“We had requested party president Naveen Patnaik to reconsider the candidature of Samir Dash for the Nimapara Assembly seat. Today we have submitted resignation letters to our leader. If no decision is taken within 24 hours, we will do whatever is required to ensure the defeat of the party’s candidate for Nimapara Assembly seat,” said Pradipta Khatei, Zilla Parishad member, Nimapara. 

Also Read: BJD chief Naveen Patnaik accuses Opposition of telling lies, shedding 'crocodile tears'

Even though Dash was at the meeting, he refused to say anything to the media. But in his address to his supporters, he hinted at altering the political equation in the Nimapara seat. 

Nimapara constituency has been witnessing such chaotic situations since the announcement of Dillip Nayak’s name as the party’s candidate for the seat. Dash had been aspiring for a party ticket.

(By Sanjay Pati)