‘Corrupt and traitorous': BJD's Lenin Mohanty defends action against 3 leaders

A fresh political controversy has erupted in Odisha after the suspension of Arbind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) alleging a well-planned conspiracy to weaken the party from within. Reacting sharply to the developments, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty claimed that a so-called “Mid-Day Operation” had been executed against the party but ultimately failed.

Addressing the media, Lenin Mohanty said that after the failure of an earlier “Mid-Night Operation”, another attempt was made in broad daylight to destabilise the BJD. “The Mid-Day Operation has also failed,” he asserted, adding that any future attempts, including a “Mid-Evening Operation”, would meet the same fate.

Mohanty alleged that the conspiracy involved Bijoy Mohapatra, Arbind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud, claiming that they had been part of the plan for several months. According to him, certain groups were actively trying to weaken the party, with Bijoy Mohapatra providing backing to these efforts. This, he said, led to disciplinary action against those involved.

‘Not All Innocent Faces Are Harmless’

Taking a direct swipe at Arbind Mohapatra, Lenin remarked that “not all innocent-looking faces are truly innocent”, further intensifying the political rhetoric surrounding the issue.

Also Read: BJD internal crisis deepens as MLA count continues to drop after suspension of two leaders

Statement of BJD Spokesperson Lenin Mohanty

"Just to segregate the matter, attempts are being made to portray the Arabinda Mahapatra and Sanatan Mahakud cases are different, but this is completely incorrect. A larger conspiracy had been in the making for over a month, in which Sanatan Mahakud, Bijoy Mohapatra and his son, BJD MLA Arbind Mohapatra, were all involved. After careful assessment, the party concluded that their actions amounted to a serious breach of party discipline. The party was being misled, injustice was being done within the organisation, and such conduct falls squarely under the category of corruption and betrayal. It is for these reasons that disciplinary action has been taken. Each of the three had clearly defined roles who would provide backing, who would organise, and who would execute the plan. Once the entire picture became clear, the leadership felt that action, which perhaps should have been taken earlier, could no longer be delayed. The action has been taken strictly against those found to be corrupt and traitorous. There have also been claims that Sanatan Mahakud was absent, but he attended the last meeting and spoke to me personally. If anyone repeatedly weakens the party, makes no positive contribution, and consistently works against the organisation, action must be taken. This was also the expectation of several party workers, and the Hon’ble President has taken the right decision. As for Bijoy Mohapatra, a senior and respected leader, where he travels, be it Odisha or Chhattisgarh, is entirely his personal choice. However, the party has found concrete evidence indicating attempts to weaken the organisation. These three individuals were responsible for that, and therefore, action has been taken,” said BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty.

Response from Arvind Mohapatra 

“If I was linked to these individuals, then it should be stated clearly. If the details are provided, it would be better for everyone. For the past 48 hours, things have been going around like a maze, creating confusion. If the truth is stated plainly, it would help clear the air.

My father has no connection to this matter and should not be dragged into it unnecessarily. As for who was allegedly executing anything, our meetings were limited to brief interactions in the Vidhan Sabha. We do not hold discussions in the Assembly lobby. Around 49 MLAs are usually present there, and normal discussions take place, with MLAs from other parties also visiting. Baseless allegations should not be made. Whatever allegations have been levelled so far must be proven, and if there are new allegations, they should be supported with facts.

Regarding corruption, I have been an MLA for the last 18 months and have made sincere efforts to eliminate corruption from my end. I give an open challenge, conduct a survey in Patkura to compare the level of corruption earlier and the present situation. The allegations of corruption are completely unfounded. Do not make vague claims. Clearly state what I have done. The people of Odisha also want to know why this issue has continued for the last three days and on what basis the Patkura MLA was suspended. If these facts are placed in the public domain, everything will become clear. If I had made allegations against someone, I would have specified what they did. The allegations and the suspension letter have been issued by the party, so it should be made public what anti-party activities were allegedly committed. Let it be published so that the people can know,” said Arvind Mohapatra.

No Response from Accused Leaders

Meanwhile, no reaction could be obtained from Bijoy Mohapatra or Sanatan Mahakud regarding the allegations.

As political statements and counter-statements continue to escalate, the episode underscores growing internal tensions within the BJD, with the party leadership making it clear that any attempt to undermine its unity will be dealt with firmly.