Bhubaneswar: President of BJP's Bargarh district unit Narayan Sahu today requested BJP State President Basant Panda to relieve him from his post in protest of the party roping in ex-BJD MLA Ashok Panigrahi for Bijepur bypoll.
However, talking to OTV, Sahu said he will not leave the party but will stay in Bijepur and openly protest if Panigrahi is chosen as candidate for the bypoll.
“I will not resign from the party but will continue to work for it. I have requested to relieve me from the district president post which has not been accepted till now. I have given an oral request but not yet sent any letter regarding this. Three Mandal presidents in Bijepur and district executive members are with me. I will remain in BJP till the party takes final decision and I hope that it takes appropriate decision,” said Sahu.
He demanded that old party activists who have worked for the BJP since long and are actively involved in the organisation should be declared as the candidate for the bypoll.
Reacting to Sahu's decision, BJP's national secretary Suresh Pujari said, "I know Narayan Sahu since last 25 years. He is a dedicated and disciplined member and an apt candidate for Bijepur."
Pujari even added that no candidate has yet been finalised for Bijepur bypoll though nearly a dozen MLAs and ex-MLAs including Panigrahi are in contact with the party. But the final decision lies with the core-committee.
Earlier on Monday, Ashok Panigrahi along with his thousands of supporters joined the BJP at the ‘Mishrana Parva’ held at Barpali in Bargarh district. Sahu's absence in the event gave way to speculations that he has resigned from the party.
Denying the hypothesis, Sahu today said he missed the event as he had gone to visit an ailing relative.
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