The recent joining of Bapu alias Jyotikanta Parida of Paradip in the BJD has raised eyebrows among intellectuals with regard to the clean image of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
It is learnt that Bapu along with former Paradip Municipality Chairman Ramesh Samantray and their supporters from Paradip and Kujang joined the BJD under the stewardship of local MlA and Health Minister Dr Damodar Rout.
While it is not known whether the Chief Minister knows about the antecedents of Bapu, the police criminal records have the name of Bapu.
Earlier, the Paradip police station IIC had submitted a confidential report to the Tehsildar-cum-Executive Magistrate of Kujang pronouncing Bapu as an accused involved in as many as 27 criminal cases, including remarks of atrocity on Dalits, under various Sections of IPC.
It is also alleged that police have not arrested Bapu as he has the patronage of Dr Rout. Many BJD members and supporters here feel unhappy that Naveen Patnaik is falling prey this way to the dragnets of criminals, perhaps unknowingly, said a BJD supporter of Kujang.