BJD leader AU Singh Deo on Monday dismissed as “rumour” the reports that he has resigned as an MlA because he was unhappy with the manner in which he was forced to give up his Rajya Sabha seat and made the party candidate for the Balangir Assembly seat.
There were reports that Singh Deo had dashed off his resignation letter to the office of the Speaker of the Assembly on Saturday. The ‘rumour’ gained force as the Secretary and the legal officer of the Assembly had rushed to Boudh to meet Speaker Pradip Amat, who is camping there. While the Assembly officials confirmed they had visited Boudh, they said their meeting with the Speaker was in connection with an “official matter”.
There were also unconfirmed reports that the Speaker had discussed Singh Deo’s resignation issue with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over phone. However, reports said Singh Deo agreed to withdraw his resignation letter after both Patnaik and the Speaker persuaded him against the idea. “I do not know who circulated such rumours. I am busy campaigning although I am suffering from kidney-related health complications,” Singh Deo told the media from Balangir on Monday.