A new political outfit called Koshal Janata Dal (KJD) was formed here on Wednesday to intensify the agitation for a separate Koshal State comprising 10 districts of western Odisha.
Baidyanath Mishra, former working president of Kosal Kranti Dal (KKD), was nominated as the president elect of the new party. Social activist and Bonai Vikash Parishad president Sanat Kumar Pradhan was nominated as the vice president, while RTI activist Chakranta Jena is its general secretary. Advocate Swarup Mishra was nominated as secretary of the media cell.
Eight members were nominated to its executive committee, such as Girija Shankar Senapati, Jaisingh Sing, Bishnu Mahanta, Ranjan lenka, Surama Mishra, Narendra Patri, Amiya Naik and Manbodh Thakur.
The speakers lashed out at all successive Governments in general and the BJD Government led by Naveen Patnaik in particular for the lop-sided development of the State and demanded justice for the people of Koshal region.
Announcement of KBK scheme in the late 90s has failed to mitigate the suffering of the people despite `3,000 crores pumped out from the Central exchequer.
Baidyanath Mishra demanded Mohanty Commission report on regional imbalance tabled in the Assembly. Besides demand for separate State, six more resolutions were adopted, including permanent bench of the High Court at Sambalpur, one session of the State Assembly at Rourkela, headquarters of WODC at Balangir and that of KBK at Bhawanipatna.