Mahtab's media musings draw criticism in midst of some support

Bhubaneswar:  A day after chief minister Naveen Patnaik asked party members to refrain from reaching out to media on issues related to party instead talk to him, in context of Mahtab's second column, Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debasish Samantaray today came down heavily on the the Lok Sabha member for his statements in media. However former Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Parida extended support to Mahtab on the issue.

Samantaray slammed Mahtab yesterday for his second piece and also warned him of strict possible action in the lines of Prafulla Ghadei. “Leaders like Prafulla Ghadei were not spared. Similar action could also be initiated against Mahatab,'' the legislator said.

Also Read: Mahtab’s 2nd Op-ed creates ripples again in BJD

''He (Mahtab) is winning elections riding on the hard work of grassroots level workers of the party and CM Naveen Patnaik, who requests people to vote for him. The CM is also aware about proper action against the erring leaders,'' the MLA pointed out.

The Cuttack legislator added the party has never accepted his views. BJD is united despite his attempt to create cracks.

On the other hand, Mahtab’s former Parliament colleague Baishnab Parida backed him for making his personal views in media. “There are so many forums in party levels. If these forums take the party issues seriously, such situation would not arise or people would not go to media”, Parida added.

In a bid to clarify points highlighted in his previous article, the BJD Parliamentary party chief in Lok Sabha wrote another article criticising some party leaders for the manner in which they had reacted to his first article and underlining loopholes in the party’s strategy to counter the BJP.