TV
After facing a debacle in the last concluded Assembly elections, fissures have emerged within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with party leaders engaged in mudslinging. Senior party leader Amar Prasad Satpathy on Saturday trained guns at party supremo Naveen Patnaik and said he should accept the responsibility for the party's defeat.
Speaking to reporters in Bhubaneswar, Satpathy said, “We had chosen Naveen Patnaik as our leader. We were hopeful that he would shoulder all responsibilities. The way he was taking the credit for the party’s victory, he should now accept responsibility for the defeat.”
“The party will function smoothly only if he (Naveen) guides it in a proper route through reviews,” he added.
When asked about VK Pandian’s role in the party, the senior BJD leader said, “We have not made him our leader. Naveen Patnaik is our leader and people have voted for him. So he (Naveen) should speak about the party’s defeat. This is my personal opinion.”
Former MLA Sambit Routray also said that whatever party leader Amar Satpathy has said is right.
“He (Amar) is a senior leader and whatever he has said is correct. Now BJD president is holding district-wise review meetings at Sankha Bhawan. The senior party leaders are also involved in the review meeting,” Routray said.
Commenting on the development, senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “Though it came off late, but it is a big statement by BJD leader Amar Satpathy. Satpathy could have lost his post for his remark if the BJD was in power today.”
“He (Satpathy) has held Naveen responsible for the defeat. Satpathy’s statement can be considered as a collective remark of the leaders who actually love the party. Many leaders are still keeping mum,” Mohanty added.
Meanwhile, no comments could be obtained from the BJD supremo or other leaders over the remarks made by Amar Satpathy.
