Bhubaneswar: In what is going to be the biggest brainstorming in recent memory, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will hold its extended executive meeting here on Sunday.
Chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik will preside over the meeting while around 300 leaders, including 81 executive committee members, 147 state council members, all MLAs, MPs and presidents of 32 organisational districts will attend the one-day event.
“Certainly the discussion will focus on the unkept promises of the Centre. There are a host of issues that prove that we are being neglected by the Centre. Besides, this time we are focussing on the development of women and youth....Since panchayat election is round the corner, a draft agenda on this will be discussed elaborately,” BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said.
At a time when BJD is reeling under serious charges of corruption and the alleged involvement of many of its front ranking leaders in the chit fund and other scams levelled by the BJP and Congress, the Sunday meet is being seen as a damage-control exercise by the regional party to regain its ‘fading image’.
Political observers feel the alleged involvement of the ruling party’s ministers and MLAs in the chit fund scam, the Motilal Gouda case and the arrest of actor-turned politician Tattwa Prakash Satpathy aka Papu Pom Pom’s in a sexual harassment case have dented the image of the regional party.
“It (BJD) will look forward to rebuild its image and to reenergise the party workers ahead of the panchayat polls. Amidst the ongoing charges against the party, it will certainly be an uphill task for the BJD to drive the youth against the Opposition force,” political analyst K Ravi said.