As expected by political observers, Kendrapada MP Baijayant Panda was suspended from the BJD’s primary membership with immediate effect by party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on disciplinary ground on Wednesday.
The decision was announced by party vice-president Surjya Narayan Patro in a Press release. The move was taken on the basis of the reports of the party’s observers for Kendrapada and Cuttack districts Pramila Mallick and Usha Devi, respectively, who had been asked by Patnaik to probe the charges of anti-party activities against Panda by party leaders and workers of the Kendrapada Parliamentary constituency.
Panda has over a long period been observed to be getting inclined towards the BJP, which he may join before the next general elections. Known as a Twit master, he has been gunning at Naveen Patnaik on different issues through the social media indirectly by targeting an IAS officer serving as the Chief Minister’s Special Private Secretary.
The BJD release said, Panda “has been directly and indirectly indulging in activities aimed at weakening BJD, whether it is the Parliament, State, constituency or media space”. No “opportunity” was missed by Panda “to criticise the BJD and eulogise the opposition”. His claims of being a founder member of the BJD are “totally false”.
Panda’s conduct during the PRI elections in which he did not campaign for the party candidates even in his own constituency and, instead, indulged in anti-party activities supporting opposition candidates was totally against the interests of the BJD, the release said.
The release revealed that Patnaik didn’t recommend Baijayant for the post of Chairman of Standing Committee on Finance in lok Sabha despite Panda’s plea that he could make it to the post by lobbying.