BJD leaders oppose taking ex Congress MLA Dusmanta Naik in party fold

Bhubaneswar: Over 28 BJD leaders including Kalahandi district president Pushpendra Singh Deo today submitted a memorandum to BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik objecting the joining of former Congress MLA Dusmanta Naik in the party.

While joining of Congress spokesperson Sulochana Das had prompted reactions from some party members like veteran leader Damodar Rout, the speculations of Naik joining BJD has not gone well with Kalahandi leaders. Today they submitted a memorandum that alleged Naik will not be an asset but a burden for the party as he is not popular. The BJD members also alleged he has criminal antecedent.

Last week the former legislator Naik had said he might quit Congress due to unruly conduct of various members within the party. Two days later, spokesperson Das had met BJD Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and joined BJD the next day. Ever since, there have been speculations of Naik joining BJD.