Bhubaneswar: War of words between political parties in Odisha is getting intense ahead of the Bijepur bypoll with Congress today claiming that the ruling-Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will cease to exist following the retirement of Chief Minister and party president Naveen Patnaik in a span of two years.
While lambasting BJD vice president Surya Narayan Patro for his comments that the members of Congress will soon join BJD and the party will be wiped out, senior leader Niranjan Patnaik said, "Patro has uttered the right words but it's not Congress but the BJD which will get wiped out and, left with no choice, its members will join Congress. BJD's existence is solely dependent on Naveen Babu. In the next 2-3 years, he will retire following which BJD will cease to exist."
Earlier today, Patro had said that all members of Congress party in Bijepur joined BJD and other leaders of Congress are also leaving the party.
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"Congress has no other option, it will get wiped out soon. We accept people from Congress or BJP, who will follow Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s ideology," Patro had said, adding that Congress’ extinction from the State is evident from the fact that it is presently facing a leadership crisis both at the national level and in Odisha.
“BJD will undoubtedly win the Bijepur bypoll,” Patro claimed.
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