Bhubaneswar: Extending support to MP Baijayant Panda following his suspension from BJD, Union Minister and senior BJP leader Jual Oram today asserted that action taken against the parliamentarian was whimsical.
Targeting the regional party, Oram stated that there is no internal democracy in BJD. Earlier, Nagendra Pradhan, Tathagata Satpathy and Bhartruhari Mahtab had been vocal on different internal issues which clearly reflect the state of affairs within the BJD.
The Union Minister further said that the BJD is facing a situation similar to Janta Dal in 1995, when Biju Patnaik lost control over his partymen and his government was dethroned.
Asked whether Panda is joining BJP or not, Oram feigned ignorance. However, he challenged BJD leaders to prove that Panda had supported the saffron party.
Reacting to Union Minister Jual Oram’s statements, BJD spokesperson and Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debashish Samantray said, "MP Baijayant Panda was suspended for targeting the third floor."
"The suspension decision was not taken all of sudden. Though the CM had clearly asked to raise issues and grievances before him, Panda went to social media with his grievances," said Samantray adding that the party will be strengthened following the move.
Expressing similar views, another BJD spokesperson, Sameer Dash, said "Why Jual is worried about our party's internal matters? There is no intra-party rift in BJD and Oram should be worried about his own party leaders including Bijoy Mohapatra and Dilip Ray.”