Badri Patra blames Bobby Das, VK Pandian and leadership lapses for BJD’s electoral defeat

Senior BJD leader Badri Patra on Friday launched a scathing attack on party leaders Bobby Das and former 5T Chairman VK Pandian, holding them directly responsible for the party’s electoral defeat in Odisha.

Speaking at the BJD Foundation Day programme held in Ghasipura, Patra openly accused the duo of mismanaging the party. Patra alleged that ticket distribution during the elections was deeply flawed. 

He claimed that despite extensive groundwork by Akash Dasnayak in Korei, he was denied a ticket. He alleged that Bobby considered himself the owner of the party. He also said that Bobby contested the election himself, also fielded his mother as a candidate and everyone saw the results. Taking a swipe at Bobby further, Patra said that Ashok Das’ wife lost her first election due to the 'actions of the son,'.

Patra did not spare BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik either. He questioned why Naveen campaigned twice in Nuapada but did not campaign adequately during the general elections. According to Patra, had Naveen gone for campaigning and had tickets been distributed properly, the BJD would have been in power today.

Similarly, in the Raja Chakra issue, Patra has also blamed the top leadership. He alleged that confusion was deliberately created across the entire district over the Raja Chakra matter. According to him, money was spent to form a faction in the name of Raja Chakra and stage a rebellion. He claimed that he was instructed not to step out of his own Assembly constituency, as a result of which people from other constituencies distanced themselves from him.

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At the same time, directly targeting Bobby and Pandian, Patra said that earlier neither of them existed, yet all MLAs and MPs used to win elections.

"Had Naveen gone for campaigning and had tickets been distributed properly, the BJD would have been in power today," said Patra. 

However, no response has been received from the BJD regarding Patra's allegations so far.