With the delay in declaring names of presidents of its three organisational districts, Ganjam, Balangir and Sambalpur, the internal rift in the BJD’s rank and file has come to the fore.
Naming Aska MlA Debraj Mohanty as chief of Ganjam district, the home turf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has surprised the most of the workers at grassroots level of the party. Mohanty is understood to have been a close confidant of Patnaik during the last one year. His loyalty to Patnaik has accrued good dividend, said a party worker.
But his predecessor Subash Maharana, who enjoyed the post consecutively for three terms, is reportedly unhappy as his strong supporter Brahmapur MlA Dr RC Chyaupatnaik failed to get him nominated the fourth time, sources said. Many of local BJD leaders were expecting that one of them would be made the district chief.
However, they are tight-lipped and do not want to comment in public apprehending disciplinary action.
On the other hand, many party insiders consider Mohanty as non-controversial having better organisational ability.
Meanwhile, elated Mohanty thanked party chief and Chief Minister Patnaik posing trust on him. “I will work hard to strengthen the party at grassroots level in the district,” he said.