Bhubaneswar/Bargarh: A day before the joining of former Bijepur MLA Ashok Panigrahi in the BJP, the BJD today exhorted confidence in winning the by-election by declaring its 3-Bs slogan-Bijepur, BJD, Bijay (victory). It lambasted Panigrahi, a rebel leader of the party during 2014 polls, terming him as a 'habitual indisciplinarian'.
“It’s triple B--BJD, Bijepur and Bijay. BJD’s victory in Bijepur is imminent. The party will be free from trouble as he (Panigrahi) is going to join another party. BJD will no more be tortured by the habitual Indisciplinarians ,” said senior BJD leader and MP Prasanna Acharya, a rival of Ashok Panigrahi during 2014 general election in the same assembly constituency.
In response, Panigrahi who is getting prepared to join the saffron party tomorrow formally with his supporters, took his rival’s statement in a lighter vein. “My joining the BJP has become a major cause of worry for BJD leaders and it has made them mentally unstable,” Panigrahi said.
On the other hand, resentment is brewing within BJP in Bargarh district as party is going to announce Panigrahi’s candidature for Bijepur soon after his induction into party fold tomorrow.
The discontentment was clearly visible today with the absence of district president Narayan Sahoo and his supporters from a meeting of top leaders including KV Singhdeo, Pradip Purohit and others in Bargarh.
However, the saffron leaders are reportedly trying hard to pacify the dissidents.
“There is no revolt in party in Bargarh. Narayan Sahoo is a disciplined man. He will undoubtedly follow the party decision for the betterment of BJP in State,” party general secretary Prthivraj Harichandan said.