BJD chief suspends Koraput dist president from party

Bhubaneswar: BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik today suspended the party’s Koraput district president Jayaram Pangi for involvement in anti-party activities.

Earlier in the day, supporters of Pangi and senior BJD leader and former minister Rabi Narayan Nanda had a face-off during the zilla parishad chairman election.

Even BJD flags were burnt by a group of party activists and anti-Naveen slogans were made.

Talking to media persons, Pangi alleged party observers for Koraput district, Pranab Prakash Das and Tejeswar Pardia, had taken money to nominate the zilla parishad chairperson as per their choice.

Also read: BJD's Koraput ZP chairman aspirant suspended from party

In his reaction, Ashok Pangi, son of Jayaram Pangi, said, "Whatever my father has said is his personal opinion. I have been in BJD and will continue to work for the party as per the directive of Naveen Patnaik."

BJD’s senior leader Rabi Narayan Nanda commented,  "The way Koraput district president maligned the image of party leaders is unacceptable."