Rift in Sambalpur BJD unit as party workers allege against Pratap Deb

Sambalpur: Rift in the BJD unit of Sambalpur has come to fore after a faction of party workers on Friday levelled allegations against the party's district observer and Rajya Sabha member Pratap Deb for not inviting the local MLA and district president to a party meeting.

Reportedly, a meeting was organised by Deb at Gosala area under the Rengali constituency without the knowledge of the local MLA Ramesh Patua and the district president Pramod Rath.

While the party workers have condemned the move, the MLA has said that he is deeply hurt as he was not invited to the meeting. He further said that they will meet the Party supremo Naveen Patnaik and report the matter to him.

“It is very unfortunate that neither the district president nor the local MLA had any knowledge about the meeting. If this situation continues in the future, it would create problems for the party. So we will go to Bhubaneswar to meet the Chief Minister on January 22 and apprise him about the incident,” the MLA said.

Similarly, district president Pramod Rath also openly levelled similar allegations though he refused to comment in front of the camera.

On the other hand, a controversy has also surfaced in connection with the preparations of Biju Yuva Chhatra Samavesh scheduled to be held at Jamankira ground.

Sources said that there are no names of local youth leaders of the party in the programme list. The youth leaders have threatened to launch protest against Deb if the posters and banners bearing the programme list are not changed.

However, comments of Pratap Deb could not be obtained over the allegations.