BYJD workers protest rejig, stage sit-in at party office

Bhubaneswar: Expressing resentment over the restructuring of Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD), some party workers staged dharna in front of the BJD headquarters here late last night.

They alleged the decision to restructure the frontal wing of the party has been taken by some leaders without the knowledge of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik.

“Some in the party have taken such a decision unilaterally for their own interest without the knowledge of party chief. Do the chosen ones deserve the posts ?”, asked Shakti Prasad Rath, a BYJD member.

The irate activists warned of intensifying the stir if the decision is not reconsidered. “This is unfortunate that some of our leaders are trying to pose hurdles before the ambition of chief minister for the youths and students. We will continue our protest against it”, said Abhisek Khuntia, another member.

The BJD replaced four advisors of the youth wing- MLA Byomakesh Ray, Anubhav Patnaik, Manas Madkami, and Pranab Balabantray- with Ranjit Mohapatra, Sanjay Babu, Amaresh Jena and Kunja Bihari Das. Similarly, 33 organisational districts of the party have been divided into six zones. Each zone will be headed by a chief.