Bhubaneswar: Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and BJD MLA Pramila Mallick today got into a war of words after the latter challenged the parliamentarian to prove his popularity by winning the election after quitting the party.
"As he claimed to have organisational strength even after furnishing false information to the Election Commission of India during 2014 polls, he should prove his mettle by winning the election after quitting the party. He would know how many people support him?" Mallick said.
Panda reacted to Mallik, saying that the legislator should be given the charge of investigation into chit fund scam and Kunduli gangrape case. "It would be beneficial for Odisha if Pramila Mallick is given charge of inquiry into chit fund scam & Kunduli gang rape case as she has the track record of submitting report and identifying the accused in three days," the MP tweeted.
Mallick's statement came six days after Panda's suspension from BJD. Mallick was one of the observers appointed by CM Naveen Patnaik to probe the allegations of anti-party activities against Panda.