Bhubaneswar: With one after another high profile leaders deserting the ruling-BJD camp, now concerns being raised over the prospects of the party during upcoming 2019 elections.
After the exits of leaders like Rama Ranjan Baliarsing, Jayram Pangi, former Kendrapara MP and senior leader Jay Panda, ouster of senior leader Damodar Rout and recently resignation of former Mayurbhanj MP Laxman Tudu has now fuelled speculations that the ruling party could face huge setback during the forthcoming elections.
As suggested by national media agencies, the exit of Jay Panda could pose the biggest impediment for the BJD.
Not only Panda, several leaders, those who quit the party before have cited their displeasure over the management of the party and questioned the Chief Minister’s private secretary VK Pandian’s excessive interference in affairs of the party.
Speculations are doing rounds that there are chances that general public could also seriously start to accept the allegations of these former leaders which could further fuel anti-party fire against BJD.
“The senior leaders, who actually played a crucial role in forming the BJD, are being ignored. Foreigners are now ruling the party,” rued former Mayurbhanj MP Laxman Tudu while announcing his resignation from the party yesterday.
Tudu had further said even though he apprised the party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik about it, he didn’t pay any heed to his concern.
However, the BJD has denied any such impact on their party. On Tudu’s resignation, party leader and spokesperson Amar Satpathy said such incidents occur when elections are round the corner, so there is no need to worry. “The leaders who quit the party will generally speak about their displeasures. However, it does not mean that it will have an impact on general public,” said Satpathy.