Bhubaneswar: While a virtual war has already broken out between BJD and BJP to bag the Bijepur constituency seat in the ensuing bypoll, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today refuted the allegations that BJD is following 'divide and rule' policy to strengthen the party.
While speaking to media today at Naveen Nivas, the CM said, that is not correct and BJD is not playing divide and rule policy.
Congress has been alleging BJD of luring its leaders to strengthen its own party since the joining of late Bijepur MLA Subal Sahu's wife Rita Sahu in BJD.
Congress had earlier alleged that BJD is not getting a suitable candidate for the Bijepur bypoll even after 17 years of its rule in the State and so it is eyeing to strengthen the party by luring Congress leaders.
Also Read: Make Prasanna Acharya BJD in-charge for Bijepur bypoll: Damodar Rout
Meanwhile, Patnaik congratulated six Congress councillors, chairperson and vice-chairman of Barpali NAC who joined BJD today.
"I am happy that all the Congress councillors, chairperson and vice-chairman and general secretary of Odisha Pradesh Youth Pradyumna Tripathy of Bijepur assembly constituency have joined BJD. I welcome them to our party and their joining will strengthen BJD," said Patnaik.
"Subal Sahu was my 'political guru'. As his family joined BJD, we decided to support them by joining the BJD brigade," said Tripathy.
https://youtu.be/5sopcKlbyoc
The Bijepur bypoll has been necessitated by the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu. Subal Sahu’s family had earlier on September 23 joined BJD following which his wife, Rita has been named as the party candidate for the bypoll.
Also Read: Bijepur bypoll: Ex-BJD MLA Ashok Panigrahi joins BJP
On the other hand, BJP has already sounded poll bugle in Bijepur by roping in former BJD MLA from the constituency Ashok Panigrahi. However, it is yet to officially name Panigarhi as its nominee for the Bijepur bypoll.
https://youtu.be/LTVHe7Q0g0k