Again the spat between the Dhenkanal BJD MP and Pallahara BJD MLA came to the fore with the supporters of the two leaders accusing each other over the June 5 incident.
On June 5, MP Mahesh Sahoo had a verbal duel with Pallahara MLA Mukesh Pal over breach of protocol in inauguration of a Covid care Centre in Pallahara. The Citizen Forum gave a memorandum to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through the local administration demanding an apology from Dhenkanal MP Sahoo for engaging in a brawl with MLA Pal and using vulgar language during an altercation with Pal and his supporters. Sahoo was miffed over the inauguration of the Covid Care Centre in Pallahara by Pal without waiting for him though he was invited for the same.
Forum president Sontosh Dehury and secetary Susil Samal threatened to stage demo by wearing black badges in front of the Biju Patnaik statue in Pallahara if Sahoo did not apologise within a week. Meanwhile, another local forum, Bikash Parishad Pallahara, countered the move by sending a memorandum to the CM seeking a proper inquiry into the incident. Parishad president Jogesh Bukta and secretary Sanjib Behera alleged that it was a conspiracy of MLA Pal to defame MP Sahoo.