CHAMPUA On Sunday, Champua MLA Meenakshi Mahanta held a massive gathering of people at the Shiva temple, Jajanga near Joda, to conduct a membership drive for the ruling BJD. During the event, the villagers assembled with total disregard of Covid norms like wearing of masks and social distancing.
The MLA was not reportedly trying to enforce Covid norms, it was alleged. Rather, she was boasting of her achievement of making many people join the BJD.
Sources revealed that Meenakshi who was a political nonentity till 2019 had won the last Assembly election due to the whole hearted support of former MLA Santatan Mahakud, but dispute started between the two when Bhakta Banndhu Mahanta , the husband of the MLA, interfered in all the mining business of the region and sidelined the supporters of Mahakud. After the news of betrayal of Meenakshi spread among the people, the supporters of Mahakud started quitting the BJD and joined other parties like BJP.
However, in the meantime, Meenakshi is said to have joined hands with some arch rivals of Mahakud. More interestingly, Sanjay Barik, who is alleged to be involved in many criminal cases, was seen to be sharing stage with Meenakshi on the occasion.
The local police who are supposed to enforce Covid norms turned a blind eye on the event as there is a speculation going on in social media that Meenakshi is going to be inducted in the next Cabinet reshuffle of CM Naveen Patnaik.
The police have received flak for their double standards as they don’t hesitate to slap fine for any violation on the common people. Contacted, Bhakta Banndhu Mahanta, husband of the MLA, said they had organised a meeting for Covid awareness but had not anticipated that there would be a huge gathering of people.