Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: At a time when the BJD has still not taken its decision on the resignation of Baijayant Panda from party, senior BJD leader and former minister Damodar Rout today said, he believes that the parliamentarian had done nothing which can be termed anti-party.

"I am presently disposed off by the party so what can I say about others. Baijayant Panda was suspended from the party after which a show-cause notice should be served to him. However, he resigned from the BJD so what can the party do now as an elected member stays in a party till he or she resigns. Baijayant Panda has not spoken anything against Naveen Patnaik or BJD till date; he is targeting a concerned official, which can't be considered as anti-party activity," he added.

Rout further said that some political parties recently entered the residence of an official working in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) alleging that he is the second power-centre in the party. However, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is the only power-centre, he said.

"Naveen Patnaik will be criticised if he does something wrong and praised for doing right, after following someone's advice. It is the responsibility of the CM, so there is no second person," said Rout.

When asked if the resignation of Panda has boomeranged on BJD, Rout said that he is not in-charge of party affairs now and one should ask Jajpur MLA Pranab Prakash Das.

In response to a question if Das will be the next power-centre in BJD, Rout said, "Das is young; he understands business but is yet to understand politics. He has still not reached the first stage to become a power-centre."

Earlier in the day Opposition party chief whip & Congress leader, Tara Prasad Bahinipati said that BJD is repenting for not paying last tributes to noted industrialist late Bansidhar Panda, father of Baijayant.

"Bansidhar Panda was a noted industrialist and close to Biju Patnaik but none from BJD turned up to pay last tributes to him. Therefore the party is still silent on taking any action against Baijayant Panda," said Bahinipati.

He further alleged that BJD has a record of backstabbing others adding further that the party's attempt to target Baijayant Panda has boomeranged.

In response to the allegations, government chief whip and BJD leader Amar Satpathy said Congress should mind its own business rather than interfering in the affairs of BJD. The final decision in BJD will be taken by party supremo Naveen Patnaik and people will come to know about it, he added.

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